Serve

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. (1 Peter 4:10 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• The gifts of God are not limited to preaching, teaching, healing (the ministry gifts as we tend to think of them), but he gives all gifts, including the less visible and sometimes routine, for which we are grateful, especially when we need the services of people who possess these gifts.

Pray today:

• For the Finance Division of the College to be efficient and productive, for its people and systems to work well.
• For each department within Finance: Accounting Services, Human Resources, Technology, Campus Safety, and Campus Operations.
• For the services they provide to students and employees to be exceptional, for abundant resources to meet needs and advance the mission of the College, for gifted employees who serve the Emmanuel family well.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Ask

[Jesus said,] I tell you the truth, my Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy. (John 16:23-24 NCV)

Today's meditation:

• Thrilling to read that the Father responds to the requests of Jesus' disciples. Even more thrilling to realize that we, too, are his disciples and have the privilege of asking in Jesus' name with the same promise to receive.

Pray today:

• For the new fundraising campaign that launches this spring, for people to be receptive and open to the Holy Spirit's guidance and to obey his directives.
• For the vision of Emmanuel College to be underwritten by the contributions of alumni and friends who desire to partner with us in the Christian higher education mission.
• For transformational gifts from faithful supporters as well as from new donors, for deep and abiding faith in the asking, for the fullest joy possible in the receiving, for God's incomparable glory in the outcomes.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Don't Give Up On Me

I will obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me! (Psalm 119:8 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• God never gives up on us, even at our worst, but our prayer is to be at our best, allowing him to lead and to control our steps.

Pray today:

• For the supporters of Emmanuel College to be faithful and generous, for them to be determined to see the College through every challenge.
• For alumni and friends of the College to be effective in helping the Advancement Department discover new donors, individuals who have never given or even known about Emmanuel, but who have a desire to support and strengthen Christian higher education.
• For no one to think his or her gift is too small, but to pray and give as God directs, because when people obey the Lord, there is abundance to advance his kingdom through our mission.

Pray First! Pray Through!

From Solid Rock

He turned the rock into a pool of water; yes, a spring of water flowed from solid rock. (Psalm 114:8 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• God's miraculous ability to take care of the nation of Israel in the wilderness, to make provision for them from the unlikeliest of places, shows his great love for his people and his willingness to do the extraordinary for their benefit. 

Praise today:

• For the Advancement Department to be strong in fundraising for Emmanuel College, for its systems to work flawlessly, for its goals to be achieved, for abundant funds to flow from our Rock of Ages.
• For the personnel in Advancement to engage with donors in ways that meet their desires to give and to support Emmanuel.
• For Advancement communications to be clear and effective in informing supporters of the various needs and opportunities of the College.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Stand in Awe

The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround the throne. (Psalm 89:7 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Standing in the heavenlies in the throne room would no doubt be overwhelming with all the majestic beings engaged in spectacular worship, but nothing would capture our attention more than God resplendent in his being, the center of the power and the awe.

Give praise today:

• For the Lord is in his temple, worthy of our praise, great and mighty in our lives.
• For the privilege we have to gather with other believers today to offer our worship.
• For the church that meets around the world today to exalt the Lord, focusing on the one who commands our devotion and obedience.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Who compares?

For who in all of heaven can compare with the Lord? What mightiest angel is anything like the Lord? (Psalm 89:6 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Think of all the great people you know or of all the great characters of history and literature, combine them all together, and they still do not compare to the incredible and remarkable God we serve.

Give praise today:

• For the Lord of heaven who possesses all power and commands the universe, and yet he loves you and me.
• For our loving Lord who enjoys the worship of myriads of heavenly beings, and yet he longs for relationship with you and me and takes pleasure when we worship and praise him.
• For our generous Lord who knows our needs, listens to our prayers, and answers with his favor upon our lives.

Pray First! Pray Through!

We Thank You

We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 75:1 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• One day of thanksgiving is not enough, so may we start each day with thanks upon our lips and gratefulness in our hearts that overflows to those around us and makes our lives full and blessed.

Give thanks today:

• For God's provision for Emmanuel College: he is with us, he sustains us, he is always near.
• For miracles for Emmanuel College: he has sent us what we needed when we needed it - people, skill sets, resources, ideas, donations, students, solutions, favor, and more.
• For the future of Emmanuel College: he saves, he builds, he secures, he gathers, he sends, he blesses - all in his good time, for his purposes and in his will.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Happy Thanksgiving

We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks to you! We proclaim how great you are and tell of the wonderful things you have done. (Psalm 75:1 GNB)

Today's meditation:

• Proclaim the goodness of our God who blesses us with his presence, his favor, and his provision - today and every day. Thanks be to God.

Give thanks today:

• For the love of God in our lives: salvation through Jesus Christ, our personal walk of faith, adoption into the family of God our Father, and the guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit.
• For the people in our lives: the love of family, the gift of friendships, the guidance of mentors, the collaboration with co-workers, and the service of so many we will never know by name who protect our homes and nation.
• For Emmanuel College in our lives: so many changed, inspired, and sent, so many touched by our graduates, so many marriages and children, generation after generation, so many careers and ministries blessed, so many now and in the future who will receive and who will give back for generations to come.

Pray First! Pray Through!

The Lord has blessed

Their descendants will be recognized and honored among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed. (Isaiah 61:9 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• May the Lord continue to bless the people of Emmanuel College, and may we receive remarkable favor to do his work in this time and place.

Pray today:

• For all the personnel of Emmanuel College who work to recruit, admit, and retain students, for them to be skilled in communication and blessed with compassion.
• For our recruiters to be effective in identifying students who should be enrolling, for our student admissions counselors to work diligently by phone and in person to communicate the Emmanuel message, for our financial aid counselors to assist students with resources that help them find a way where sometimes there seems to be no way.
• For those who work in the student retention areas, especially the Bridge early alert system and the Building a Path to Success program, for these personnel and their programs to help more students succeed and achieve educational and life goals.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Bring Them In

You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain - the place, O Lord, reserved for your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established. (Exodus 15:17 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• The place of the Lord's dwelling is now within us, his people, who open our hearts to him and so he can transform our lives to conform to his.

Pray today:

• For the College's marketing efforts to be effective and successful with its audiences, for our messages to penetrate each target market and reach the students God is calling to enroll at Emmanuel.
• For resident students to fill our residence halls to capacity, for more commuters to drive in from the local communities, for large increases in enrollment among IPHC and other churches, for sufficient numbers of athletes to fill our team rosters.
• For all our students to respond to the voice and leading of the Lord, for them to hear his call upon their lives, to find his purposes, and to pursue his paths.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Multiply

Be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. (Deuteronomy 8:1 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• May we be diligent in obedience to the Lord and fruitful in the mission he has assigned us, giving honor to those who have preceded us and creating hope for those who follow.

Pray today:

• For Emmanuel's Enrollment Management Department to reach its recruiting goals, for marketing, ministry, and word-of-mouth to draw thousands of students to enroll, for the mission of Emmanuel College to expand and multiply.
• For the financial aid team to be successful in responding to students' financial needs, for them to be able to manage their workload well, keeping students informed and providing assistance to all.
• For the admissions team to manage recruiting tasks well, for them to have insight and discernment in helping prospective students, for our campus preview events to be well-attended, for travel and communications to be effective in leading more students to the College, and in turn, may more of our graduates impact the world for Christ.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Whatever You Do

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:17 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Our time is a most valuable asset which must be invested well to produce healthy relationships and positive outcomes that please the Lord.

Pray today:

• For our student clubs and organizations to thrive and provide valuable experiences for their members, for sponsors and leaders to use discernment and wisdom.
• For the members of the Student Senate who are the elected representatives of the student body, for them to work well together, to be united in purpose and plans, and to find useful ways to improve student life on campus.
• For the academic organizations to be effective in promoting academic disciplines and student learning, for the groups that are social in nature to create opportunities for relationships to flourish, for the intramural sports program to promote healthy physical activities and great fun for all participants, for each group to fulfill its purpose and mission, for students to find places of interest and belonging. 

Pray First! Pray Through!

Ministry

The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. (Mark 6:30 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Jesus continues sending out people to do ministry in his name, resulting in remarkable results and powerful outcomes.

Pray today:

• For our student ministry groups to be effective, for the students who participate to be equipped  for and dedicated to their ministries, for the staff leadership of these organizations to be guided by the Holy Spirit in all programming, planning, and outreach.
• For the students and staff who comprise the Emmanuel Singers, the Emmanuel Players, Revive Dance Team, EC Serve, and other outreach ministries of Emmanuel College, for the people to whom they will minister to be receptive, for protection in their travels, for abundant financial support.
• For the Emmanuel Singers who leave today on a short tour before Thanksgiving, for a powerful ministry of song and Word in each location, for the work of the Lord to be accomplished in each heart. 

Pray First! Pray Through!

I Cry Out

I cry out to you; rescue me, that I may obey your laws. (Psalm 119:146 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• May we cry out to the Lord, and when he answers, respond with devotion and obedience, leading to our transformation into people who focus less on what we receive and more on what we can give.

Pray today:

• For our students again, for their prayers to be answered, for them to pray first and pray through.
• For our students who neglect prayer to neglect it no longer, for those who ignore actions that lead to spiritual health to take action to improve. 
• For students' needs expressed this semester: to overcome fear and anxiety, to be freed from the past, to shake off complacency, to lay down burdens, to forgive and be forgiven, to see family members saved and delivered, to focus on good and on Jesus, to find purpose, to offer future plans to the Lord, to be guided by the Holy Spirit, to find hope.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Living as I should

As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! (Psalm 119:7 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Two steps: learning the ways of the Lord and living out what we've learned. A righteous life requires both.

Pray today:

• For our Student Development Department to be effective in supporting and guiding all our students, in helping them learn productive life lessons, in leading them to find joyful and purposeful living.
• For our students who live in campus housing to take advantage of all the benefits of on-campus living, for our commuters to fully engage in campus life, for our international students to find friendships and support systems, for our dual enrolled students coming from local high schools to find a home at Emmanuel.
• For any student, regardless of type or background, who is struggling, whether academically, socially, or spiritually, to turn to the Lord and to realize that God is able to help them manage any challenge and overcome any obstacle.  

Pray First! Pray Through!

New Life

I want to obey your commands; give me new life, for you are righteous. (Psalm 119:40 GNB)

Today's meditation:

• Obedience to God's commands leads to new life, whether its obedience in repentance to receive the gift of salvation or its the seasoned Christian stepping out in faith to accept a new assignment from the Lord. 

Pray today:

• For our Student Development Department to be effective in helping students develop the whole person, for people and programs to guide students to growth and maturity.
• For all personnel in Student Development, whether professional or student staff, to live and work in ways that draw students to them, for them to seize every opportunity to pour into the lives of our students, especially those who may be hurting or who have lost their way.
• For our students to be responsive to our efforts in pointing them to Jesus, for them to develop a love for the Word of God, for the lost ones to be saved, for the saved to grow in Christ, for new life to blossom all around us, for growth and transformation in beliefs and behaviors.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Weighed Down

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. (Psalm 146:8 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• When weighed down with cares and concerns, turning to the Lord allows him to share our burden which lifts the load and reveals his great love for us. 

Pray today:

• For our students as they enter exam week, for them to use today and tomorrow wisely as they prepare for testing and finish assignments, for them to have clear vision regarding what to study, for them to have excellent recall during exams which begin on Thursday.
• For our faculty who are preparing exams, for them to have wisdom in design and content, for them to have discernment and energy in grading exams and assignments.
• For our students to complete the semester successfully, especially those who may be struggling, for them to not let adversity stop them, but have determination and persistence to keep working toward their goals.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Wisdom

For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it. (Proverbs 8:11 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Wisdom is a rare quality that typically operates above emotions, partiality, and power, certainly rare and definitely to be desired, especially in judgments, decisions, and choices. 

Pray today:

• For the Virtuosi Honors Program planned for next fall to be successfully implemented, for students to be attracted to this unique and outstanding opportunity
• For students in these courses to not merely acquire knowledge but to be wise in the use of knowledge, for them to become great thinkers and problem-solvers, for them to learn to use their academic prowess as change agents for good in the world.
• For the faculty who teach in these academic areas to be effective teachers, communicators and mentors, for the students enrolled in these programs to be receptive and to succeed, for these students to connect to God and the wisdom he offers to those he has gifted and called.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Give Me Life

Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. (Psalm 119:37 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• The wrong perspective often leads to disappointment, but the correct perspective that focuses on God as our source always brings comfort, encouragement, and satisfaction in life.

Pray today:

• For the Developmental Studies Program at Emmanuel College, for course design and methods that enhance academic remediation and success for disadvantaged students. 
• For students in these courses to make substantial progress, for them to be motivated to work hard, for them to exhibit self-discipline and resilience through challenges and set-backs, for them to use all the resources available to them including tutors, peer mentors, faculty advisers, library services, counseling, residence life staff, and the Academic Resource Center.
• For the faculty who teach in these academic areas to be effective teachers, communicators and mentors, for the students enrolled in these programs to be receptive, to study, and to succeed, for these students to realize that God is their helper who can guide them, encourage them, and enhance their abilities.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Eagerness for the Word

Give me eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money. (Psalm 119:36 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Eagerness to live for God and obey his Word marks the Christian more than chosen profession or earnings.

Pray today:

• For the School of Education, for supporting resources and infrastructure, for development and growth in each of its majors: Early Childhood Education, Middle Grades Education, Secondary Education, and non-certification majors in Child Studies and Health & Physical Education. 
• For more students to be drawn to teaching, for Emmanuel College to produce generation after generation of teachers who are experts in their subject fields and who are shining examples of Christ's love and compassion for the world.
• For the faculty who teach in these academic areas to be effective teachers, communicators and mentors, for the students enrolled in these programs to be receptive, to study, and to succeed, for students, staff and faculty to follow God's commands, living the life he calls us to. 

Pray First! Pray Through!

The Path

Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. (Psalm 119:35 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Christianity by example, by walking the walk, is a very effective soul-winning method.  And, it brings with it much satisfaction and contentment.   

Pray today:

• For the School of Christian Ministries, for supporting resources and infrastructure, for development and growth in each of its majors: Christian Ministries and Worship Ministry. 
• For more people to hear the call of God to a life of ministry, for them to be drawn to Emmanuel College, for more students to enroll in SCM, for each student enrolled now and who will enroll in the future to be committed to Jesus and to a lifetime of Christian service.
• For the faculty who teach in these academic areas to be effective teachers, communicators and mentors, for the students enrolled in these programs to be receptive, to study, and to succeed, for students, staff and faculty to follow God's commands, living the life he calls us to. 

Pray First! Pray Through!

Put into Practice

Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. (Psalm 119:34 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Not enough to know the Word - it must be put into practice. Not enough to have knowledge - it must be shared and used for good purposes. 

Pray today:

• For the School of Business, for each of its departments and majors: Business Administration, Communication Studies, Diversified Agriculture, and Kinesiology and Sports Management.
• For the faculty who teach in these academic areas to be effective teachers, communicators and mentors, for the students enrolled in these programs to be receptive, to study, and to succeed, for students, staff and faculty to follow God's commands, living the life he calls us to.  
• For all academic disciplines and majors at Emmanuel College, for supporting resources and infrastructure, for their development and growth.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Understanding

I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding. (Psalm 119:32 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• The Word of God is the foundation of all learning from which we expand knowledge and understanding to earn a living, but may we never forget that living with purpose through Christ Jesus, regardless of vocation, is the essence of life. 

Pray today:

• For the academic disciplines and majors at Emmanuel College, for supporting resources and infrastructure, for their development and growth.
• For the School of Arts and Sciences, for each of its departments and majors: English, Math, Music, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.
• For the faculty who teach in these academic areas to be effective teachers, communicators and mentors, for the students enrolled in these programs to be receptive, to study, and to succeed, for students, staff and faculty to follow God's commands, living the life he calls us to.  

Pray First! Pray Through!

Your Teachings

I study your instructions; I examine your teachings. (Psalm 119:15 GNB)

Today's meditation:

• May the Word of the Lord bring us both comfort and challenge. May it open our eyes to see God's love, but also to obey his commission to share God's love with others.

Pray today:

• For the remaining chapel services this semester to be effective in communicating the Gospel, for our students to receive the Word of the Lord.
• For those who have yet to make a commitment to Christ to do so, for those who need to grow in Christ to find pathways of understanding.
• For the planning and implementation of chapel services next semester, for every speaker and program to be anointed, for effective teaching and preaching, for life-changing responses among the hearers.

Pray First! Pray Through!

No Fear

The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? (Psalm 118:6 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• People can cause quite a fuss and disruption, but they cannot defeat the Lord nor change his plans.

Pray today:

• For God to advance the mission of Emmanuel College quickly, for confidence in approaching every conference call and every meeting with those who have the power to thrust us forward.
• For our narrow view to expand to a God-sized view, for fears to disappear when we focus on God who is for us.
• For meetings and calls this week to be covered with prayer, to be saturated with the favor of God.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Faithfulness

All heaven will praise your great wonders, Lord; myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness. (Psalm 89:5 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Another Lord's Day. Another opportunity to gather with other believers and worship the Lord. Never take it for granted.

Pray today:

• For praise to be upon our lips, no matter circumstances, trouble or pain, for our memories to be alive with the great wonders God has already performed, for our hope to be sure that the miracles will continue.
• For us to rest in the thought of the faithfulness of God, to remember the deadend that turned out to be a new beginning, to remember the darkest valley that became green pastures and still waters, to remember the steepest mountain that turned into a pinnacle of victory and a panorama of the wonder of God's grace. 
• For us to join the myriads of angels today in praise and adoration of the Lord our God to whom be glory and honor both now and forever.

Pray First! Pray Through!

God Who Saves

Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death. (Psalm 68:20 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Troubles, reversals, broken plans. Thank God he is sovereign over all. And, he saves us from it all.

Pray today:

• For the Emmanuel College community to remember that God saves, for us to submit our lives and our future to the Lord.
• For us to break out of patterns of defeat and decay, for a new dawn with limitless possibilities, for faith to believe God to fulfill promises of purpose that are beyond our limited vision.
• For rescue from the shackles of debt, for freedom from any kind of enslavement, especially attitudes that limit action, for us to be saved to serve. 

Pray First! Pray Through!

Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people shouted "Amen" and praised the Lord. (2 Chronicles 16:36 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Passing through the many seasons of life, some comfortable and others not so much, praising the Lord should be our constant.

Pray today:

• For the Emmanuel College community as we enter the final weeks of the semester, for us to give praise to the Lord because he is our God, for us to give thanks for the opportunity we have to serve him.
• For our students to honor the Lord with their best efforts, whether academic, spiritual, or otherwise, for those who have much work to do in preparing for exams and final assignments to commit to the work and give thanks for the opportunity to learn.
• For faculty and staff to be energized and encouraged by students who are learning well, but also by those who may be struggling but working hard, for the Emmanuel community to be devoted to God and committed to one another.

Pray First! Pray Through!

My Flock

You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God.  I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken. (Ezekiel 34:31 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Parallels are often drawn between sheep and people because we have similarities, namely, a predisposition to get into trouble which means we need a lot of help just to get by. So, let's lean into the Good Shepherd and carefully follow him.

Pray today:

• For the flock of God at Emmanuel to listen carefully to the guidance of the Lord, for us to follow his voice to his pasture where he feeds us, where he protects, restores, and prospers us.
• For the word of the Lord to be spoken over us, words of comfort and forgiveness, words of action and courage, words of healing and favor.
• For the people of God at Emmanuel to worship the Sovereign Lord with total abandon, with shouts of praise and exaltation, with expressions of joy and thanksgiving - because He is our God!

Pray First! Pray Through!

They Will Know

In this way, they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them. And they will know that they, the people of Israel, are my people, says the Sovereign Lord. (Ezekiel 34:30 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• By blessing Israel and freeing them from their bondage, the world knew God was with them, had forgiven them, had redeemed them, and today, something similar is happening at Emmanuel College where our very name testifies to his presence with us, where our actions reveal obedience, where his miracles display his loving sovereignty.

Pray today:

• For doubters and believers alike to be drawn to Emmanuel College through the miraculous provisions of the Lord, for them to see here what they seldom see elsewhere.
• For the people of Emmanuel to shun the temptation to walk in our own ways, and instead, to draw closer to him, the one who never leaves, never forsakes, and is always with us.
• For adoration and worship of the Sovereign Lord to precede the return from captivity, for our worship to be genuine whether chained or free, for our praise to be exuberant because he is our God and he is with us through it all. 

Pray First! Pray Through!