Pray Constantly

We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. (1 Thessalonians 1:2 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• We are so thankful for our Emmanuel family - for all of you.
• We pray for our Emmanuel family - for all of you.
• Let us constantly give thanks and pray for one another - for all of 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.

Praises to my God

I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. (Psalm 146:2 NLT)

Today's praise:

• O God, our lives our living examples of praise to you because knowing you is the ultimate in what really matters, and praise the Lord, we know you!
• Lord God, our commitment is to serve you and to always do so with praise and appreciation for you in our lives.
• May the Emmanuel family live in continuous praise to the Lord for who he is and for the privilege we have of working in his kingdom.

Thank you for giving praise to God today.

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

Thank You, Lord

All your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. (Psalm 145:10 NLT)

Today's thanksgiving topics:

• Give thanks today for God's wonderful work in us.
• Give thanks today for so much to give thanks about.
• Be faithful to follow him closely, and as we go, give praise for who he is and offer thanks for what he does.

Thank you for giving thanks.

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

Share the Story

Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. (Psalm 145:7 NLT)

Today's thanksgiving topics:

• Give thanks today for God's remarkable faithfulness to Emmanuel College, sending help and provision through the right people at the right times.
• Give thanks today for our students, many of whom do not yet understand how God is shaping them, but all of whom will eventually see the work done in them here.
• Give thanks today for our staff and faculty who perform daily miracles, supporting and teaching in ways that change students' lives for the better.
• Give thanks today for all who share the Emmanuel story.

Thank you for giving thanks.

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

Thanksgiving

But I will give repeated thanks to the Lord, praising him to everyone. (Psalm 109:30 NLT)

Today's thanksgiving topics:

• Give thanks today for a loving, merciful Lord who actively engages in our lives for our good.
• Give thanks today for "our daily bread" and every other creature comfort and material blessing we enjoy.
• Give thanks today for Emmanuel College which is more a people than it is a place - a people who spread around the globe as salt and light, making the world a better place because we are there.

Thank you for giving thanks.

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

Your Security

For the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. (Proverbs 3:26 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we never become over confident, moving in our own strength, but may we stay within the protection and security of the Lord.
• Pray we stay ready for battle, avoiding the traps of the devil, and paying careful attention to follow in God's steps.
• Pray for protection for our students as many of them travel home for Thanksgiving, and pray for all in the Emmanuel family to have a safe and thanks-filled holiday.

Thank you for praying.

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

Victory

The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. (Proverbs 21:31 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we prepare ourselves completely, wearing the full armor of God.
• Pray we put forth our best effort in battle, every day in every circumstance.
• Pray we always remember that God brings the victory.

Thank you for praying.

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

Pray in the Spirit

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Ephesians 6:18 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray for an abiding persistence in prayer by thousands of alumni and friends who daily call out to the Lord on our behalf.
• Pray we stay alert and experience accurate discernment, making our prayers effectively focused and on target.
• Pray we allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten our true prayer needs, and may we pray in perfect unity with him who knows what to pray for even when we don't.

Thank you for praying.

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

Sword of the Spirit

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray our minds are protected from negative, faithless thinking through the saving grace of God surging through our brain cells.
• Pray we learn to skillfully handle the awesome sword of the Spirit, the word of God, to defend and advance the cause of Christ.
• Pray we constantly see the opposing forces through the lens of God's magnificent provision.

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 Shield of Faith

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. (Ephesians 6:15-16 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we face the devil with the peace that comes from knowing God, standing with firm-footed stability.
• Pray we live and move in faith in all we do, recognizing the power of faith to protect us from the offensive actions of the enemy, rendering them ineffective.
• Pray we understand that being fully prepared starts with activating God's protective gear: Truth, integrity, our salvation, and faith for living.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Stand Your Ground

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. (Ephesians 6:14 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we place the truth of the Word, especially his promises to us, at the core of everything we do.
• Pray we stand our ground, not because we are good and able, but because the Lord our God replaces our inadequacies with his perfection and righteousness, making us his agents of good in a world gone mad.
• Pray we understand it is what God has done and is doing that covers us with protection and keeps us safe in the heat of battle.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for a faithful alum who sent his $10 this month like he does every month, and also thankful for a friend of the College who sent a one-time gift of $1000. Both are used of God to provide for the needs of Emmanuel College.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Resist the Enemy

Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. (Ephesians 6:13 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we use God's armor, both defensively and offensively, in the struggle with the unseen world.
• Pray we resist the enemies forces who would tempt us to doubt God's purpose and provision, and pray we stubbornly stand.
• Even when we do not know the battle plan, pray we learn to stand in God's armor and from that vantage point we will see what to do next.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• As I remember the dozens of battles we've already fought, some of them life and death struggles, each of them requiring different strategies and tactics, the common threads are God's leadership and the fact that we are still standing firm.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

The Unseen World

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor. (Ephesians 6:12-13a NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we accurately discern behind our opposition in the seen world, an array of beings in the unseen world who are moving against us.
• Pray for wisdom to fight spiritual beings and battles with spiritual methods and weapons.
• Prayer warrior is an appropriate description of those who are needed to effectively manage the battles and overcome the enemy. Pray for more prayer warriors to support our mission.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• I keep getting a glimpse of the vast army of prayer warriors actively engaging in spiritual warfare. Sometimes it's in an email or a social media post, sometimes in a quiet comment, sometimes in a note attached to a check. 
• Thank God for the continuous prayers offered with Godly precision that make surgical strikes against the designs and plans of the unseen world.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Stand Firm

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we understand what it means to suit-up in God's armor, finding strength and might his way instead of ours.
• Pray for discernment to see the strategies of the devil so that we unleash the holy firepower of prayer and the Word to defeat his every move.
• Regardless of what the devil throws against us, pray we stand firm.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thanks to God and the people of God that Satan's strategies have failed to destroy us or even make us ineffective. 
• As the battle continues to unfold, thankful for God's promises to be what we need when we need it, to rescue and deliver, to make us strong in his mighty power.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Peace

Lord, you will grant us peace; all we have accomplished is really from you. (Isaiah 26:12 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray for peace of mind and steady actions in the work before us.
• Pray we keep our actions in proper perspective to God's responses, always acknowledging what he has accomplished through us.
• Pray we always remember what God has already done for us, causing faith to rise as we ponder what he is yet to do.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for how God works in our students. One recently commented that God took the broken pieces of her life and made it something wonderful. She said, "I've discovered a career and a calling" and been "completely transformed."

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

My Helper and My Savior

As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay. (Psalm 40:17 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Although God has blessed us with a brief period of respite, pray for the battles over the life and mission of Emmanuel College that are yet to come.
• Pray for long-term solutions which will require great financial resources to meet the needs and obligations of the College.
• Pray for God to hold us close, to move swiftly and not delay in bringing the necessary help to overcome the challenges looming in our future.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

The Lord is Great

May all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The Lord is great!" (Psalm 40:16 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we joyfully do our work even when the tasks are difficult and heavy.
• Pray we proclaim God's marvelous nature which often reveals his amazing actions among us like rescue and relief.
• Pray our faith extends beyond past miracles to believe for even greater wonders in our present and future.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Tender Mercies

Lord, don't hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. (Psalm 40:11 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we never stray from God's loving care but always bask in his tender mercies.
• Pray for his love to change us into people who are more loving, who learn to deal with our challenges by helping others deal with theirs.
• Even as he is faithful to us, pray that we, like him, are always faithful to follow wherever he leads, knowing his protection surrounds us.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Never Stop Telling It

In the assembly of all your people, Lord, I told the good news that you save us. You know that I will never stop telling it. (Psalm 40:9 GNB)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we constantly share how God is rescuing Emmanuel and preparing us to do more than we've ever done.
• Pray the news of God's saving miracles spreads throughout the alumni and friends of the College and through them to others who are yet to become friends and alumni.
• Pray for more miracles, for more telling, and for miraculous responses from those who hear.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Blessed

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aide to false gods. (Psalm 40:4 NIV)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray for blessing upon blessing flowing to us as we trust the Lord with everything.
• Pray we never make false gods by trusting in anything or anyone other than the Lord our God, maker of heaven and earth, the all-powerful and holy One.
• Pray we never take God's blessings for granted, but pray we are always keenly aware of him who is the source of all blessing.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

We Trust

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. (Psalm 33:21 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Rejoice, for God is good and kind, and he invites us to trust him.
• Pray for us to never look at difficult circumstances without first looking to God.
• Pray for us in the challenges ahead to be able to trust and exalt our reliable and holy God.

Thank you for praying.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Our Help

We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray for hope to run strong in the minds and spirits of the Emmanuel family because knowing God is to know hope.
• Pray we never confuse the source of our help, for even though people do the deciding, the giving and the serving, it is God who influences and moves them to be wise, generous and kind.
• Pray we never do anything that removes us from God's protection, but pray we always carefully position ourselves behind the shield of his awesome power.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• I've been reviewing the gifts that have come in these last couple of weeks, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. We have received many gifts through the Phon-a-thon, yet there are many unsolicited gifts as well. There are gifts from. . . 
• trustees of the College
• alumni
• local residents of Franklin County and the area
• pastors and bishops
• churches
• organizations
• doctors
• retirees and others on fixed income
• current and former faculty and staff
• parents of current students
• those who give every month
• those who give every time the Lord enables them
• those who give small gifts and large and everything in between
• Let us rejoice in God's provision and remember that if the people will pray and ask God what to give and then obey him in their giving, Emmanuel College will everything we need.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

The Lord Watches Over

But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.  (Psalm 33:18-19 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray for us to always possess a healthy respect for our all-powerful and limitless God, and may we never presume upon his kindness but always humbly bow in obedience to his will.
• Give thanks to the Lord who promises us unfailing love, vigilant protection and miraculous rescue.
• Pray for our obedience and God's power to synchronize and produce sufficient resources for our survival in the current lean times and for great prosperity in the good times to come. 

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for a wonderful Homecoming weekend and for all of our faithful alumni who pray and give to make Emmanuel stronger.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

The Lord's Plans

The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.  (Psalm 33:10-11 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray that Satan's plans for Emmanuel College are frustrated, at every turn his schemes disintegrate into nothingness. 
• Pray for God's plans for Emmanuel College to be supported by the unrestrained prayers of his people and by the strong hand of the Lord.
• Pray for God's intentions to flow unfettered by man's limitations, and may the Emmanuel family assist and support his plans to their completion.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for a very good and productive Board of Trustees meeting this week. So grateful for the passion and commitment of this dedicated group.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Your Favor

My future is in your hands . . . Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me.  (Psalm 31:15-16 NLT)

Today's prayers:

• O Lord, we submit to you and your plans for us knowing your ways are good.
• May your favor overwhelm us with everything we need to serve you well.
• Jesus, may we do nothing to limit your work among us, and instead, may we do everything that opens the floodgate of your blessings upon us.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful God has brought us through each crisis of the last fourteen months and for the promise of his rescue from the challenges we will face in the future.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Privilege of Trusting

For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.  (Philippians 1:29-30 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we correctly assess all the privileges we have in serving Jesus including the opportunities to sometimes suffer, knowing that each one is also an opportunity for greater faith.
• Pray for unity and single-minded purpose throughout the Emmanuel family to work well together, through good and bad, in the valleys and on the mountain tops.
• Pray for the meeting of the Board of Trustees today, for creative thought and good decision-making.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for every gift in the Campaign FOR EMMANUEL and in the Phon-a-thon, from $10 to $50,000.  All are deeply appreciated and will be put to good use in God's work at Emmanuel College.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Saved by God Himself

Don't be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. (Philippians 1:28 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we correctly perceive what is happening around us, that Satan is our enemy and God is our Savior. 
• Pray for cool-headed courage under fire, for clarity of thought and effective action.
• May we learn to stand and fight by first kneeling in surrender, learning to obey the commands of our Lord and trusting him to save us.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for multiple gifts recently of $1000 in the Campaign FOR EMMANUEL and in the Phon-a-thon.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Standing Together

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. (Philippians 1:27 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray for agile minds and deep faith to infuse our conduct with wisdom and Christ-centered lifestyles.
• Pray for unifying vision and collaborative action in several high-level meetings this week with consultants and trustees.
• Pray for unflinching resolve in the Emmanuel family to stand together and fight the spiritual forces arrayed against us.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for gifts of $5,000 and $6,000 in the Campaign FOR EMMANUEL  in recent weeks from dear friends of the College.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Bold for Christ

For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. (Philippians 1:19-20a NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray for more prayer partners to join us, because although we have won the first battles, there is a long and challenging journey ahead over which we must pray for complete deliverance and victory.
• Pray for us to continue to be bold, even more so than in the immediate past.
• Pray for people to feel God's influence upon them as they give of their time, talents, and money so that what is given is exactly what he intends.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for a $15,000 gift in the Campaign FOR EMMANUEL this week from a faithful friend and supporter.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Perspective

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation - the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ - for this will bring much glory and praise to God. And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me has helped to spread the Good News. (Philippians 1:11-12 NLT)

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray for our Christian character to be as bountiful as a tree in full fruit, easy to see, wonderful to the taste, and producing actions that bring glory to God. 
• Pray we understand that God has not caused our trials, but may we rejoice knowing that he is using them to advance his kingdom.
• Pray for perspective in good times and bad which opens our eyes to see what God is doing, and more importantly, to discover how we can align our efforts to cooperate with his plan.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thankful for a $10,000 gift this week from an alumna in the Campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.