Forgetting the Past

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, . . .  (Philippians 3:13 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pardon me for stopping Paul's words mid-sentence, but as we finish one year and stand on the cusp of the New Year, it will do us well to forget some things and focus forward on others.
• Pray we forget all the hurts, disappointments, mistakes, and sins of the past, covering them with the blood of Jesus.
• Pray we focus with intensity and purpose on the work God has for us in the New Year, bathing our plans and actions with prayer, following the Holy Spirit wherever he leads.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for the grace of God that is greater than all our sins, cleansing us, healing us, and filling us with renewed purpose.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

The Light Shines

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:4-5 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• God's light illumines his purposes and nothing can stop him from doing what he intends.
• Pray we bask in his light and with confidence move forward to fulfill the purpose he has in mind for Emmanuel College for the New Year and all the years to come.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for the students who are preparing to enroll in January and for hundreds more who are planning to be here next fall.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Abundant Joy

They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. (2 Corinthians 8:2 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• It is no secret that Emmanuel College is being tested by many challenges, but God has helped us meet each challenge thus far and our joy is overflowing as we reflect on the blessings of the past year.
• Pray we respond in the New Year to God's gracious provision by offering what we have to him, generously and completely, serving where he calls.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for every answer to prayer and for every miraculous provision from God.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Light Has Dawned

The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Matthew 4:16 NIV)

Today's prayer topics:

• The birth of Jesus is the birth of hope for mankind, that what is broken can be repaired, that what is lost can be found.
• As Christ's followers, pray we commit ourselves to sharing the light of the Gospel wherever he leads us, whether to some far-flung corner of the earth covered with the shadow of death or even if it's to those living in darkness across the street in my neighborhood.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for dozens of students who are preparing to serve others through short-term mission trips this spring and summer.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Glorious Grace

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. (Ephesians 1:5-6 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• One of the greatest pleasures during the Christmas season is watching the joyful reaction of someone who has been given a gift, especially if you were the giver. 
• Pray we rejoice this season in the glorious grace poured out on us through the gift of the Son of God.
• Thank him for adopting us and giving us a place in the family of God.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

To Those Who Ask

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. (Matthew 7:11 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Christmas Day has come and gone, but we are still enjoying gifts received, and more importantly, we are thrilled by the love behind those gifts. 
• Pray we continuously nurture the loving relationship with our Father, asking him for God-things in our lives - the best gifts imaginable.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

God Gave His Only Son

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall  not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)

Today's prayer topics:

• We give and receive gifts today with those we love, but no gift compares to what God gave in a Bethlehem stable nor in what Jesus gave on a Jerusalem cross.
• Pray we honor God today in our joyous celebrations and remind each other often of the meaning behind the gifts on this Christmas Day.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for over 100 students last semester who accepted Jesus, the gift of God to the world, and now have the promise of eternal life. The miracles continue.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Opened Their Treasures

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11 NIV)

Today's prayer topics:

• The wise men traveled the farthest and perhaps understood the most about the Christ-child, his future, his sacrifice, and his provision for man. See how quickly they bowed in the presence of the Son of God and worshiped him. 
• Pray we continually bow down and worship our Savior and Lord, never losing sight of what he has done and is doing for us.
• Pray we open the treasures of our hearts and give him our hopes and dreams, our thoughts and ambitions, to offer them to him for his use and purpose and for our good.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for the gifts of goodwill and the favor of God upon Emmanuel College that has led us miraculously through many challenges this past year.
• Thankful for those who have given financial resources during the last few weeks with gifts ranging from $10 to $1000 and culminating in a donation of $50,000 this week. What generous Christmas gifts to honor our Lord, Emmanuel, the God who is with us!

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Overjoyed

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. (Matthew 2:9-10 NIV)

Today's prayer topics:

• Those of us in education are grateful the wise men are included in the Christmas story. Although they may have been the first to know, they were the last to show up, but they faithfully followed God's direction and let nothing stop them from their pursuit of the Christ-child.
• Pray we are willing to go to the ends of the earth, if necessary, to follow Jesus in obedience and worship.
• Pray for joy in our lives, not just a little, but a lot - joy that's over the top, ecstatic, exceeding great joy - because we found Jesus, and we follow him.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for students, staff, and faculty who are planning short-term mission trips this spring and summer. If we are wise, we must go where he leads.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

To Worship Him

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:1-2  NIV)

Today's prayer topics:

• What marvelous imagery that the most important royal birth did not happen in a palace but in a stable, the lowest and most humble of settings. 
• Pray we fully grasp the significance that Jesus became a common man of the lowest order so that he might elevate us to a higher order, namely, to become royal heirs of God the Father.
• Pray we are wise enough to humble ourselves and always worship him, the one born in Bethlehem as the supreme ruler over death and the grave, who brings new life to all who seek him.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Keeping Watch

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (Luke 2:8-9 NIV)

Today's prayer topics:

• The angels didn't form their choir on the temple mount in the city of Jerusalem, but in the lowly hills around the village of Bethlehem, appearing not to the well-heeled and educated in their leisure, but to common men while on the job working the night shift. How unexpected.
• Pray we remain faithful in our work, keeping watch over our responsibilities, laboring in purposeful routines of the expected, but always ready for God to break through with the surprising and the unexpected.
• Pray for the glory of the Lord to shine upon us, giving us light and focus and awe, seeing God not through the diminishing filters we use to limit his presence in our lives, but in the fullness of his energy and power toward us, in us, and through us.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

The Time Came

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2:6-7 NIV)

Today's prayer topics:

• How surprising that the greatest person ever born could find no guest room prepared for his arrival. The "No Vacancy" sign was out, so a smelly stable with a manger of hay had to do.
• Pray we always make room for Jesus - in all our plans, our hopes, and our actions.
• Pray we have the patience to wait for God's answers to come to full term, birthing in us exactly what he wants when he wants it.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

A Child is Born

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6  NIV)

Today's prayer topics:

• Oh, the difference the birth of a child makes, but the Christ-child changed the world by rescuing us.
• Pray for the leaders of Emmanuel College to allow Jesus to counsel and guide us into his perfect paths.
• Pray the entire Emmanuel family yields to the power of our God and to the authority of our loving father, and pray for Christ's peace to still the hearts and minds, bringing rest, confidence, and hope.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Power of the Holy Spirit

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• We never tire of the story of how God provided the gift of life to the world in days of old, but may we remember that he is with us today, listening to our prayers and granting us his daily visitation and provision.
• Pray we allow the Holy Spirit to birth in us the remarkable and miraculous.
• Pray for the people of Emmanuel College to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Emmanuel

All right then, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel (which means 'God is with us'). (Isaiah 7:14 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• God is with us! Pray like you believe it and never forget it. God is with us!
• While we enjoy the Christmas season with family and friends, and as we hear the Christmas story told over and over, pray for the impossible to become possible as men and women once again yield themselves to the awesome power of God.
• Pray for people inside and outside the Emmanuel family to believe in our mission and support it by their decision-making.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Press On

Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring. (Hosea 6:3 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Success comes from pressing on, but our most important achievement is not material gain but knowing him. Pray with the prophet, "Oh, that we might know the Lord!" 
• Pray for us to develop recruiting strategies that find streams of students who know the Lord and want to know him more.
• Pray. He will surely respond. Our answers come often with growing perception like the faint hint of dawn, but given time, light comes in ever increasing clarity.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

He Will Restore

In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence. (Hosea 6:2 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• In the crucible, time slows, but in God's timing, everything comes to pass with exquisite precision. Pray for patience to endure and for discernment to guide our actions, and most of all, for determination to live in his presence.
• Pray for those working on the Strategic Enrollment Plan who conclude two days of meetings today. Pray for wisdom and Godspeed to work quickly and effectively.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Secret Riches

And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness - secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. (Isaiah 45:3 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• God intends to bless us with abundance, much of it from sources yet unknown, and he will do it because he is the Lord, the one who knows everything about us - our past, present, and future. Pray we yield to his intentions in humility and awe.
• Pray for the special treasure that comes in the form of our students who have such potential to change what's wrong in the world. 
• Yes, pray for our returning students who are secret riches for unlocking the future, and for those yet to enroll who should listen to the Lord calling them to Emmanuel - our treasure from hidden places.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Seek Him

In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. (Isaiah 26:9a NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we are quick to seek the Lord, whether morning, noon or night, whether the challenges are small or huge, whether the day is peaceful or tumultuous, to always search for him, to seek him, the source of everything good.
• Pray for those engaged in recruiting students to Emmanuel, for recent training to be of great value, for insight and wisdom as they interact with prospective students, and for the confidence and energy needed to joyfully do the work.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Your Will, Our Hope

We follow your will and put our hope in you; you are all that we desire. (Isaiah 26:8 GNB)

Today's prayer topics:

• O the beauty and delight of the will of God. Pray that we always seek it and follow the Lord with all our hearts.
• Pray that our hope is grounded in the will of God, not the works of man, and pray that our obedience to the will of God fuels more and more hope.
• Pray for those in the Emmanuel family who may be discouraged, to seek God's will more persistently as the pathway to hope and the source of great peace. 

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

The Path Ahead

But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them. (Isaiah 26:7 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• The journey at times is over unfamiliar terrain so pray we find the path God prepares - smooth, productive, and leading to his best for us.
• Pray for those who will be working over the Christmas break to be super efficient and effective, for maintenance crews, for accreditation committees, for those working on the strategic plan, and for others who have tasks to complete.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

The Eternal Rock

Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. (Isaiah 26:4 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• The Lord is our place of safety and security, our stability in all kinds of weather, so pray we trust him and walk with him through rain or shine, hot or cold, through the storm or beside the still waters. 
• Pray for the Lord's protection over our students as they travel home for the Christmas break and pray for safe travels for others in the Emmanuel family across the holidays.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

I Look to the Lord

As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. (Micah 7:7 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we keep a laser-like focus on God who is our ultimate source, the Help behind all other help.
• Waiting is hard, but waiting confidently is even harder so pray for us to remember clearly what God has already done so that our confidence grows in what he is yet to do.
• Pray for those who are working on our Quality Enhancement Plan, a requirement of accreditation, that they will focus on retention with creativity and will find extraordinary helpers, internally and externally, who will masterfully assist us in completing an effective and acceptable plan.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

You Will Receive

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray for persistence in the people of God to keep on praying and calling upon the Lord for what we need to fulfill his purposes for Emmanuel College.
• Keep on asking for problem-solving ideas and abundant resources, for more students, for additional donors, for favor with God and man, for vision to see God's plan, for encouragement, energy, patience and peace of mind, and for anything the Lord puts into your mind to pray for, but above all, keep on asking.
• Keep on knocking on heaven's door, asking God to open the hearts and minds of people who can help us, especially a recent connection that has potential of opening new doors to great resources.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Endurance

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. (Hebrews 10:36 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray for us to see clearly God's long-term plan for Emmanuel College and for patient endurance to stay the course.
• Pray for correct decisions and actions on our part, following the Spirit to all he has promised.
• Pray for students, staff, and faculty this week to be strengthened as they wrap up the semester and pray for them to have abundant patience and endurance to complete exams, grading, and the myriad of other tasks to be completed.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Wisdom

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. (Proverbs 3:13-14 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray all our decisions and actions are grounded in wisdom and understanding, and that success arises from their prayerful application.
• Pray for the delegation attending the annual meeting of our accreditation agency (SACSCOC) to gain clearer understanding and even wisdom regarding our preparation for reaffirmation of accreditation.
• Pray for the team that for months now has been compiling data, and in December, will complete the writing of the first draft of the Compliance Report for SACSCOC, that wisdom and understanding will flow throughout the process.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

For Prayer

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. (Luke 5:16 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• As we experience moments of respite, pray we are not lulled into inactivity, but may we pray all the more.
• Pray we follow the example of Christ by often finding quiet places to pray.
• Pray for our students to complete their preparations this weekend for exams that begin on Monday.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Encourage Each Other

Encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray for increasing levels of cooperation and collaboration in finding solutions to the challenges we face.
• Pray we use encouraging words and actions to build up faith, love, and trust.
• Pray for the Spiritual Life Committee as they plan and work to meet the spiritual needs of our students.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayer:

• Thankful for so many supporters who give an extra gift this time of year.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Enduring Hope

As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we remain faithful in advancing the mission of Emmanuel College, and may we never forget that praying for one another is a major part of our work.
• Pray for more and more people to engage in more and more loving actions.
• Pray for hope to grow because of Jesus Christ and his living, breathing work in us.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayer:

• Thankful today marks 365 days of prayers offered through this prayer blog and so grateful for the many wonders we have experienced because of these prayers.
• Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for Emmanuel College. We need your prayers now more than ever. Please keep praying. 

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

He Carries Us

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. (Psalm 68:19 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Praise him for he is the God who saves!
• Pray we learn to rest within his embrace, allowing him to carry us to safety.
• Pray that the daily needs of our students, staff, and faculty are met.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Our Strength

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.  (Psalm 46:1 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray for strength from God that enables us to take action needed today as well as for the long-term challenges.
• Pray for refuge, places of safety and rest, to be found in the Lord our God.
• Pray for our students this week as they prepare for final exams next week.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.