Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 31, 2026

 August 31 -- John 6: 16-21 "When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.' Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going."

Prayer focus for today:  As we end the first month in the book of John,  let us start our prayers today thanking God for His Word and the blessings of praying through these first chapters. Pray for each of us to better understand the Scriptures as we continue through this Gospel of Jesus which is PACKED with so much to learn. Pray for wisdom to be able to share these powerful stories with someone who doesn't know Jesus or who is a new believer. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 30, 2026

August 30 -- John 6: 8-15 "One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 'There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?' Jesus said, 'Have the people sit down.' Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, 'Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.' So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, 'This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!' Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself."

Prayer focus for today:  Anyone who has grown up with any connection to the Christian faith knows something of today's Scripture story. Typically entitled, 'Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand' or 'The Miracle Meal' or something similar, there have been countless songs, stories, and adaptations throughout recent time. If we look past the fact that hungry people were fed, we see a deeper significance in this story ... we see God keeping His word to ALWAYS meet our every need. To the human - thinking of the disciples, these people needed to go away and figure out a solution to their hunger problem on their own; there was NO WAY they could do anything to feed so many. But to the 'God thinking' Jesus, these people needed to just sit down and trust that the God who created them would meet every need they had ... not just physical hunger. 

Pray today for faith to just sit and trust Jesus to meet your every need. Set aside the worry, fear, doubt, and time being wasted trying to solve your own problems. Pray for strength to stay peace-filled despite the temptations Satan will send to try to stir you up into worry, being distracted by thoughts that NEVER were yours to have. Jesus has a perfect plan to meet every need - even I need to remember this today. Praying today we can all sit down and trust in Him alone. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 29, 2026

 August 29 -- John 6: 1-7 "After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, 'Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?' He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, 'Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.'"

Prayer focus for today: How many times have you worried whether or not your paycheck would meet all of your needs until the next check came in?  How many times have you  doubted you'd have enough money to feed your family and still be able to pay school fees?  Pray today for faith -- pure and simple trust in Jesus Christ alone.  He already knows what He will do to meet your every need. Pray today for the strength to trust in Him alone ... and not worry. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 28, 2026

 August 28 -- John 5: 37-47 "And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?'"

Prayer focus for today:  Today's scriptures highlight an important human characteristic that wasn't just a battle in Jesus' time -- it's still a battle we all face today. How often do we have something that is TRUE placed before us, yet we do not believe, because it doesn't align with something else we believe. How often do we have something FALSE placed before us, and we quickly believe it because it makes sense with something else we've read / heard or it's simply "fantastic news" that we want to share, thinking it will make us look like we're really smart?  We all fall into these categories at some time or another because -- well, we're human. Jesus was laying the truth down without any hidden agendas. He even addressed the unbelief. Today, Jesus is addressing us the same way.

Pray today for eyes and minds to be laser-focused on Jesus and the Word of God. Pray that we would each be drawn into truth, and not distracted by spending hours on social media reading things that don't matter. Pray for true healing in homes that need to be cleansed of these practices -- that we would all believe and spend our time on things that truly matter. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 27, 2026

 August 27 -- John 5: 30-36 "'I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.'"

Prayer focus for today: In today's Scriptures, Jesus is restating that John was simply a messenger to tell of the truth of Jesus and point people to Him alone. Pray today that we would all point others to Jesus, and not try to bring attention or glory to ourselves. Pray for humility to see the truth of Jesus and live it out before others. Pray that we would all be faithful to do the 'works' that the Father has given us to accomplish -- for only in this will we live out the potential for which we were each created. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 26, 2026

 August 26 -- John 5: 22-29 "'For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Fahter. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.' 'Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.'"

Prayer focus for today:  Have you ever left one of your children in charge of the others while you went away for a short time?  Perhaps YOU were that sibling who was left in charge of the others or perhaps YOU were one of the children placed under the authority of your older sibling. Whatever the case, that authority came from a higher authority.

In today's Scriptures, we see Jesus (fully God and fully man; God the Son) describing the authority given to Him by His Father (God the Father). (We won't get into a deep discussion about the Trinity today, but just know it's there!)  Being fully God, Jesus spoke the truth in everything. He didn't always speak where everyone understood perfect all that He said, but He did speak truth. Today, let's each spend time in prayer asking for forgiveness for all the times we have failed to submit fully to God's authority over our lives. Follow that with a time of prayer asking God to show you areas where you still need to submit fully to His authority -- that you may live a more full life. Lastly, let's all pray for a more clear understanding of exactly who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him. Even if you've been a Christian since you were a young child, asking God to help you see more clearly who He is and what He wants you to do is crucial in living a more full life for Him!  Praying with you and for you every day!  We love you all. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 25, 2026

 August 25 -- John 5: 15-21 "The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, 'My Father is working until now, and I am working.' This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and give them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.'"

Prayer focus for today: Jesus was making it clear that He was just doing what He was supposed to do. He wasn't bound by earthly restrictions and "religious rules". He followed what God the Father told / taught Him to do. Pray today that you and I would grow in our walks of faith to be ready, willing, and able to faithfully follow what the Father tells us; He loves us and wants His will to be done in our lives. Pray we can each lay down the restrictions and barriers that we so often bring on ourselves. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 24, 2026

 August 24 -- John 5: 8-14 "Jesus said to him, 'Get up, take up your bed, and walk.' And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed. 'It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.' But he answered them, 'The man who healed me, that man said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk.' ' They asked him, 'Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'? ' Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, 'See, you are well!  Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.'"

Prayer focus for today: Miracles happen every day. Often, we take them for granted and they go unnoticed, but they are still there. We breathe, solve problems, do our work, are spared the pain of unfortunate events that we aren't even aware of, and the list could go on and on. In today's Scripture passage, we see the man by the pool who was an invalid have a personal interaction with Jesus and be healed. Not all healing is physical. The most important healing any of us needs is spiritual.

Pray today for someone you know who needs to have that personal encounter with Jesus  -- that they would repent and seek forgiveness for their sins as they make the most important decision of their lives - to follow Christ. Pray today that you would not be caught up in "religion" like the Jews who saw this healing not as a miracle, but as a "sin" against their religious practices. Pray today that Christ would open your eyes to the miracles all around you - that you would encounter Jesus in a brand new way. Pray today for all the college students who are starting classes and those who have already started. Please lift up our daughter, Jaymeson, and her friends who are following in faith the path Jesus has laid out for them. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 23, 2026

 August 23 -- John 5: 1-7 "After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids -- blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, 'Do you want to be healed?' The sick man answered him, 'Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.' 

Prayer focus for today: Today's scripture passage shows us a perfect question from Jesus to the invalid man by the pool. A question that seems ridiculous at first, as we KNOW anyone with a disability would most certainly choose to be freed from it, if it was possible. However, it's a perfect question, because it's a question we ALL need to be asked over and over again. 

If you are a Christian, when you first chose to follow Jesus, He asked you the same question. "Do you want to be healed ... of your sin."  In that moment, your soul said, "Yes!"   Yet, how often do you still turn to those 'comfortable' sins?  The ones you allow Satan to convince you are "no big deal"? The ones you are so comfortable committing that you just overlook them? If you've never chosen to follow Jesus, He's asking you if you want to be healed ... we all pray you'll say, "Yes!" today. 

Pray today that God will open your eyes and your heart today to the true "healing" you need. It's different for each of us, so truly do some soul searching. He's able, He's ready, and He's willing to provide, so just answer Jesus with a resounding YES -- it will be the most healing 'yes' you've ever said!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 22, 2026

 August 22 -- John 4: 46-54 "So He came again to Cana in Galilee, where He had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to Him and asked Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, 'Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.' The official said to Him, 'Sir, come down before my child dies.' Jesus said to him, 'Go; your son will live.' The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, 'Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.' The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, 'Your son will live.' And he himself beleived, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when He had come from Judea to Galilee."

Prayer focus for today: While we could easily focus on the faith of the official in this passage of Scripture, today we are going to focus on the impact the official's faith had on those in his household. Notice in verse 53, the Bible tells us that "he himself beleived, and all his household."  This is the key to every home -- that the father would believe and follow Jesus -- and his whole household would also be drawn to Jesus through the faith and leading of the father. 

Now, we certainly know that many homes today are not led by a father, so just know if you are a single mom, a grandparent, or another adult leading a home, the same can apply to you. When the one who leads the home comes to faith in Jesus Christ, it will definitely change the dynamic in the home where all in the household are drawn to Christ and choose to follow Him. 

Pray today that all households around the world would be changed by the head of the household choosing to turn from sin and faithfully follow Jesus Christ. Pray for strength when the enemy attacks and tries to distract. Pray today for your own household to all turn faithfully to not just SAY they believe in Jesus, but to faithfully live it out and change the world for HIM!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 21, 2026

 August 21 -- John 4: 39 - 45 "Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me all that I ever did.' So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, 'It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.' After the two days he departed for Galilee. (For Jesus himself has testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast."

Prayer focus for today:  "Seeing is believing" is a phrase used so often we really don't think about the meaning behind it, especially if we view it in line with our faith walk with Christ. The Samaritans believed in Jesus because of His words and His actions, but the key is ... they believed!  Pray today for those who have never known Christ to know Him and believe today. There are so many 'versions' of Christianity in our world today that Satan uses to distract and discredit, that we must be vigilant to study God's word and know the TRUTH of salvation in Christ alone. Pray today that you will become an even stronger warrior in the battle and make Christ known to all you encounter!  

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 20, 2026

 

August 20 -- John 4: 31-38 "Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, 'Rabbi, eat.' But he said to them, 'I have food to eat that you do not know about.' So the disciples said to one another, 'Has anyone brought him something to eat?' Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.' "

Prayer focus for today: How many times do we, as humans, let ourselves get focused on the things that don't really matter.  Come on, if we were each honest, we spend WWAAYY too much time focusing on the little things in life that have no eternal consequences. I know I do. Pray today that we would each be honest with ourselves and before our God, asking Him to show us where our focus is off. Ask Jesus to show you what to focus on each day, so that YOU make the difference with your life, that you were created to make!  Joining you in the this prayer... today and everyday!  

And please pray today for our family, especially our daughter, Jaymeson, as she moves into her university today and starts life in America after being in Zambia for the last fourteen years!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 19, 2026

 August 19 -- John 4: 22-30 "You worship what you do not know, we worship what we know; for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.' The woman said to him, 'I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.' Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am he.' Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, 'What do you seek?' or, 'Why are you talking with her?' So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people,'Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?' They went out of the town and were coming to him. 

Prayer focus for today: Pray today that Christians everywhere will worship in spirit and in truth. Pray for someone you know who doesn't know Jesus to be willing to "lay it all down" and follow Him. Is your walk with Christ going cold?  Pray today to be refreshed by the living water and tell others about Him today. The Samaritan woman had a life-changing encounter with Jesus, we're praying today we will all have the same. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 18, 2026

 August 18 -- John 4: 15-21 "The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.'  Jesus said to her, 'Go, call your husband, and come here.' The woman answered him, 'I have no husband.' Jesus said to her, 'You are right in saying, 'I have no husband,' for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.' The woman said to him, 'Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.' Jesus said to her, 'Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father."

Prayer focus to today: On the surface, today's scripture seems like just another conversation between two people. The Samaritan woman is eager to ask Jesus to give her this life-giving water, but He doesn't just give it to her, He gently and honestly helps her see her true need, which is repentance from sin and turning to faithfully following Him. In the piece of the conversation we are studying today, we see her understanding of 'religious' things, but she doesn't yet grasp the "Big Picture". How often do we follow this same path with Christ. We like what we hear about eternal life in Heaven, but we don't really want to mess with the "little details" here on earth. We want to continue living our lives as see fit then 'hope' for better things to come just because we are a "good" person. 

Pray today for true repentance and the freedom that only comes through Jesus Christ. Many in this world today "hope" things get better in their lives, but they aren't willing to make any changes in themselves. Pray today that each of us would see our lives clearly, just as Jesus was showing the Samaritan woman. Only then will true freedom and LIFE come. (It's not easy, but sooooooo worth it!)

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 17, 2026

 August 17 -- John 4: 8-14 "(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, 'How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?' (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.' The woman said to him, 'Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob?  He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.' Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'"

Prayer focus for today: In today's Scripture, we see Jesus breaking through the societal expectations by speaking to a woman from Samaria. As documented, Jews had no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus knew this was a human issue, and nothing ordained by God. Pray today that where there are people or types of people you choose to avoid that you would see them through the eyes of Christ. ALL of us are created equal in God's eyes, and we, as believers, should see as our Father does. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 16, 2026

 August 16 -- John 4: 1-7 "Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink.'"

Prayer focus for today: Our scripture passage for today seems insignificant, at best. A 'slow news' story for sure, in most people's eyes. However, if you know the back story, you see that Jesus didn't back down from an opportunity to buck cultural traditions. (More on this tomorrow.) He didn't just follow what was expected of an upright and 'proper' religious man of the time and area, He did what He was called to do. 

Pray today that, no matter where you live, what your 'cultural' rules are, or what you have done in the past, you will stand firm in the way of Jesus and faithfully serve Him. Pray against the stronghold that our cultures have on us, so that we may all seek Christ's culture (the expectation that is taught to us in the Holy Bible). Praying today that we will treasure our individual cultures, but that when we choose to follow Jesus, we will submit everything to following "Christian culture".  Pray that you and I will be able to discern what we need to shed in our lives that is just a comfortable cultural tradition / belief and truly shine for Christ in this dark and dying world. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 15, 2026

 August 15 -- John 3: 30-36 "'He must increase, but I must decrease.'  He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." 

Prayer focus for today: Unless we make a deliberate choice to "unplug", we are each bombarded throughout the day with information. Sometimes that information is true, and sometimes that information is false. Discerning the difference between the two can sometimes be quite difficult.  Pray today for TRUTH to be made known -- to rise above the lies and be clear to us all. The best way to do that is to immerse ourselves fully in God's Word, so we can discern the lies from the TRUTH!  

Jesus was simply telling the truth of Himself and what He was all about. Pray today for His truth to be seen clearly, as many of us today spend more time reading / watching social media than the Bible. Pray today that we would all be brought to a point of not being distracted by the lies and distractions and drawn to the truth! 

Please join us in praying for our fellow Zambians who are going through a period of violence and unrest after our national elections took place this past Thursday.

Pray that God's plan would be fulfilled and TRUTH be told everywhere. Finally, please pray for our children who are out of school on August holiday - that God would protect each one during this difficult time in our nation. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 14, 2026

 August 14 -- John 3: 23 - 29 "John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).  Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, 'Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness -- look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.' John answered, 'A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete."

Prayer focus for today:  We've all been there -- we've explained something to someone (pretty clearly, we thought), only to find out later they didn't REALLY understand  the information as we thought we had explained it. It's not until later when we hear the other person say or see them do something that it becomes clear they didn't fully understand what we had said. And so, we are able to further explain and clarify the matter so better understanding takes place.  That's what we observe in the Scriptures today with John and his disciples. 

Pray today that we would each be able to clearly explain the hope we have in Christ alone ... that others may receive and follow Him. Pray that where any misunderstandings have taken place, we would each be made aware and speak clearly to fully explain where our hope, joy, and confidence comes from in all situations. And finally, pray today that no matter what happens, we will all be found faithful to stand firm. 

We know many of you reading this are going through great trials today. Some are gut-wrenching and seem impossible to walk through. We are praying for you today and trusting Christ to be your strength. HE IS WITH YOU ... just trust in Him today!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for 13 August 2026

 August 13 -- John 3: 16-22 "'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.' After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing."

Prayer focus for today: It only takes a small light to break through darkness. The more light you bring into darkness, the more you see the need for light. Pray today for each of us to see our need for the light of Christ and to BE that light for others. Sometimes, it's just that small light that can make all the difference in someone's darkness. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 12, 2026

 August 12 -- John 3: 8-15 "'The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?' Jesus answered him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.'"

Prayer focus for today: Every day we are bombarded with information - from our phones, radios, televisions, computers, tablets, people, billboard signs, product packaging, magazines, books, and the list could go on and on. Nicodemus was seeking information, and he went to the source for the true answer to his questions. Pray today for discernment to go to the source for the information you seek. If you want to know the truth concerning a rumor you heard about someone, go to that person ... don't continue to be involved in rumors or gossip. If you want to know the truth about a political candidate, go to the source ... don't get caught up in false news. If you want to know the truth about Jesus, go to the Word of God ... pray, repent, listen, learn. 

Pray today for those who are following false 'twists' of God's Word, believing they are following Jesus, that they may understand the truth and turn to Christ alone. Pray that each of us would seek truth and turn from tendencies to gossip or blindly believe things we see on social media and spread it as truth. Pray today for the elections coming up throughout the world (on our hearts today are Zambia and the United States), that truth would reign and peace be maintained. Specifically, please join us in prayers for our home -- Zambia. Elections take place tomorrow (13 August). Pray God would calm the violence and keep our nation united as "One Zambia, One Nation." 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 11, 2026

 August 11 -- John 3: 1-7 "Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.' Jesus answered him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus said to him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?' Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'" 

Prayer focus for today: As we read today's scripture, we see Jesus explaining to Nicodemus the elemental truth of salvation through a personal relationship with Christ alone. We don't get to choose being born from our mother's womb, but each of us has to make the choice to follow Jesus ... to be born AGAIN. Pray today for someone you know who has not yet made this life-changing choice. Pray that those who THINK they are saved, but have never truly given up control over their lives and decided to follow Jesus will see their need for Him and choose to be born again today!  

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 10, 2026

 August 10 -- John 2: 18-25 "So the Jews said to him, 'What sign do you show us for doing these things?' Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews then said, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?' But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man."

Prayer focus for today:  Everyday we are each faced with opportunities to believe something ... or not. We can choose to believe the words of the people in our home ... or not. We can choose to believe a co-worker ... or not. We can choose to believe the repairman or delivery driver will be at our place when they say they will ... or not. We can choose to believe a doctor's diagnosis ... or not. The list could go on and on.

In our Scripture reading for today, we read where many people, including Jesus' disciples, believed in Him because of what they saw in Him (either signs he was doing or fulfilling a word He had said). Pray today that each of us would grow deeper in our faith and BELIEVE in Jesus. The truth of the Bible (God's Holy Word) is truth, whether we choose to believe it or not. Pray for each person around you choose to believe and follow Jesus today. The truth doesn't change just because someone CHOOSES to believe.  Believe it ... or not!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 9, 2026

 August 9 -- John 2: 9-17 "When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, 'Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.' This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days. The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, 'Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade. His disciples remembered that it was written, 'Zeal for your house will consume me.'"

Prayer focus for today: Today's scripture concludes Jesus' first miracle (sign). We are told at the end of verse eleven that his disciples believed in him. Pray today that even when you don't SEE signs or miracles occurring, you will still believe.  Our human minds are limited and cannot comprehend all He is constantly doing. Pray for time to just BE STILL before God and to grow in your faith.

As Jesus and those with him travel on to Capernaum, we see Jesus display His holiness and total devotion to keeping the things that are holy -- HOLY! Pray today that you would never settle or compromise the things of God. Pray for your understanding of God and His ways to grow more complete today that you would never accept anything less than His perfect plan. And lastly, pray for each believer to always stand firm for what you know and believe as taught in God's Holy Word, the Bible.  May Christ's holiness shine through each place of worship today!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 8, 2026

 August 8 -- John 2: 1-8 "On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.' Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, 'Fill the jars with water.' And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, 'Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.' So they took it."

Prayer focus for today:  The story of the wedding at Cana in Galilee doesn't tell us who got married ... because that's not important. It doesn't tell us who all the guests were ... because that's not the focal point of the story. The focus here is Jesus and faith in Him.  Even Mary is simply referred to as, 'the mother of Jesus.' Why?  Because the focus is Jesus. 

Although Jesus seems to dismiss His mother's request to help, He does a simple act of asking the servants to fill some jars with water - something they were probably accustomed to doing many times each day. He didn't ask them to go outside of what they knew. Mary didn't ask anything supernatural of the servants. She simply said, 'Do whatever He tells you.' And in that simple mandate, we, too, see what we're supposed to do today.  Do whatever He tells you ... and trust Him with the details. Pray today for faith to simply 'do whatever He tells you'. Pray for faith to trust Him completely ... even when you don't understand.

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 7, 2026

 August 7 -- John 1: 43-51 "The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.' Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, 'Behold ,an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit.' Nathanael said to him, 'How do you know me?' Jesus answered him, 'Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.' Nathanael answered him, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!' Jesus answered him, 'Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these.' And he said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Prayer focus for today: This section of scripture reveals more about Jesus -- His perfect knowledge of each one of us and His desire to draw us to Himself through a personal relationship. We are not saved from eternal death through the town we are from, our family lineage, or what we've done. We are saved by believing in Jesus, turning from our sins, and choosing daily to follow Him.

Today, if you have not had a personal encounter with the One True God through Jesus Christ, His Son, pray you will know Him today and surrender your life fully to Him alone. If you have made that choice to follow Jesus, pray your faith will grow and you will more deeply cling to Christ ... no matter what the day brings. We love you and are praying for you!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 6, 2026

 August 6 -- John 1: 35 - 42 "The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God!' The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, 'What are you seeking?' And they said to him, 'Rabbi' (which means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' He said to them, 'Come and you will see.' So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas' (which means Peter)."

Prayer focus for today:  As this chapter continues, we can see and hear the interactions between John and his disciples (followers) and Jesus. The story unfolds as a story before our mind's eye as we picture and can 'see' and 'hear' what is happening. They sought, they found, the followed. That personal interaction with Christ Jesus made the difference. The same is true today.

This is our prayer today -- that those who do not know Jesus will be drawn to understand their great need for Him. That they will find Him - right where they are. That they will choose to faithfully follow Him all the days of their lives because of their own personal interaction with Jesus. Pray that YOU will be used by God to tell others of Jesus so that personal interactions will happen!  How is your personal interaction with Jesus? Praying for each of us today to grow in our walk with Him.

Scripture and Prayer focus for August 5, 2026

 August 5 -- John 1: 29 - 34 "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel. And John bore witness: 'I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.'"

Prayer focus for today: John told what he knew and was confident in every word being truth. Today, pray that God would give you and I bold confidence in what we know and believe - that we would speak the truth of Christ to all we meet. Pray that if any of us have any misunderstandings or twistings of God's word, that we would be humble and wise to let God reveal this to us and change. Pray that we would each keep our focus on proclaiming Christ - not ourselves - today. May He be recognized as the difference maker worldwide today - that all may be saved!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 4, 2026

 August 4 -- John 1: 22 - 28 "So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.' as the prophet Isaiah said."  (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing."

Prayer focus for today: John (traditionally known as John the Baptist) was under pressure from the priests and Levites from Jerusalem. They wanted to know exactly who he was....he answered giving an account of WHOSE he was. Today, may we all focus our prayers inwardly doing some deep soul searching. Pray today that you (we all) would be confident in Christ alone. Make sure you know the truth of Christ, not some watered down teaching that proclaims man, and not Christ. Pray that God would make clear the task(s) He has created you for that you may speak confidently in Christ alone. We're joining you in prayer!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 3, 2026

 August 3 -- John 1: 15 - 21 "(John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.' ") For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.  And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"  He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."

Prayer focus for today:  In a world of imposters, pray for each Christian to be authentic today.  Pray that you would stand firm in knowing the ONLY God -- and salvation through His one and only son, Jesus Christ. Pray that believers everywhere would know WHO they serve and be able to stand firm in their faith. Pray that when others see us, they know without a doubt that it is Christ whom we serve. Pray that those who are falling prey to an imposter will have their eyes opened to the truth of Jesus, and choose Him today.

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 2, 2026

 August 2 -- John 1: 8-14 "He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.  He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Prayer focus for today: Jesus Christ, the true light of the world, came so that all who receive him and believe in His name will be able to be called His children. We will all spend eternity somewhere........pray that all will choose eternal life over eternal death and punishment before it's too late. Please join us today praying for those in Zambia who are choosing to follow a mixture of "cultural" religions and calling it Christianity. Pray that eyes, hearts, and minds will be opened to understanding of their need for Christ alone that they might live forever with Him.

Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 1, 2026

August 1 -- John 1: 1-7 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him."

Prayer focus for today:  As we begin a new month, we are shifting to a larger book of the Bible - the Gospel of John. The journey through the book of John will take us four months. Remember, the goal is not to read the Bible quickly and set it aside -- the goal is to read it, absorb it, learn it, and live it!

Pray today that Christ's light would shine fully in the dark places where false religions dwell; that people everywhere will see Christ's light and choose to follow Him forever. Pray that believers would be strengthened in their faith, especially when they are in hostile regions.  The truth of Jesus Christ, and eternal life through Him alone remains -- even when people choose not to believe. Just as many small candles coming together make a great light, pray that all followers of Jesus today will stand united around the world proclaiming the truth that all may be set free!