"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38 Begin your prayer time by praising God for who He is (His character). He is an eternal God, a patient and loving God. He is our strength (Ps. 27:1), and He is our resting place (Jer. 50:6).
Praise God that He is willing to use us to bless others, even though we have flaws and make mistakes. Praise God that it is not we ourselves but Christ living in us that touches and blesses lives. Confession and Claiming Victory Over Sin (approximately 5 minutes)
Ask God to show you which sins to confess openly and which to confess privately. Claim His victory over those sins. Ask God for forgiveness for times when your life was not a blessing to others. Ask God for forgiveness for times when you were more concerned about being successful than serving Him. Thank God that He forgives you according to 1 John 1:9.
Supplication and Intercession (approximately 35 minutes) Pray that God will give you faith even when the devil tries to discourage you from ministering to others. Ask God to give you a burden for souls and a love for His lost children. Pray for an attractive, Christ-like character that will draw people to Jesus. Pray for every member to feel a burden for soul winning and realize that heaven asks everyone to follow in Christ’s steps by sharing their personal faith with God’s guidance. Pray for the use of every appropriate social media format to share the three angels’ messages in a creative and fresh manner with the busy people of today. Pray for increased participation in evangelistic outreach by all church members and institutions as they support the ongoing mission of the church.
Mission to the Cities—Pray for the Inter-American Division and the cities they are trying to win for Christ: Mexico City, Caracas, Bogatá, Nassau, Belize City, Georgetown, Cali, Cayenne, Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango, Port-au-Prince, Tegucigalpa, Mérida, Puerto Rico (entire island), Santiago de los Caballeros, and Maracaibo. Pray that members can develop strategies for reaching these large cities.
Pray for the establishment of thousands of “centers of influence” (churches, health centers, daycare centers, literature centers, community outreach centers, youth centers, vegetarian restaurants, clinics, and many more), especially in large cities around the world, and pray that these centers make a huge difference in people’s lives as they experience God’s truth through Christian service.
Pray that the seven (or more) people on your list will see their need and open their hearts for the Holy Spirit. Pray for any personal needs you have. Thanksgiving (approximately 10 minutes)
Thank God that He wants to use us and not the angels to be co-laborers with Him to bless others. Thank God that Jesus set an example for us of how we can be a blessing to others. Thank God that He is sending the Holy Spirit to work on the hearts of the people you are praying for.
Suggested Songs to Sing
“God is so Good”; “Give of Your Best to the Master” (SDA Hymnal #572); “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go” (SDA Hymnal #573); “So Send I You” (SDA Hymnal #578); “Let Your Heart Be Broken” (SDA Hymnal #575); “I Love Thee” (SDA Hymnal #236); “Far and Near the Fields Are Teeming” (SDA Hymnal #358).
A Life That Blesses Others
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38
Everyone in whose heart Christ abides, everyone who will show forth His love to the world, is a worker together with God for the blessing of humanity. As he receives from the Saviour grace to impart to others, from his whole being flows forth the tide of spiritual life. (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 13)
The humblest and poorest of the disciples of Jesus can be a blessing to others. They may not realize that they are doing any special good, but by their unconscious influence they may start waves of blessing that will widen and deepen, and the blessed results they may never know until the day of final reward. They do not feel or know that they are doing anything great. They are not required to weary themselves with anxiety about success. They have only to go forward quietly, doing faithfully the work that God’s providence assigns, and their life will not be in vain. Their own souls will be growing more and more into the likeness of Christ; they are workers together with God in this life, and are thus fitting for the higher work and the unshadowed joy of the life to come. (Steps to Christ, p. 83)
The Lord is calling upon us to awake to a realization of our responsibilities. God has given to every man his work. Each one may live a life of usefulness. Let us learn all that we can and then be a blessing to others by imparting a knowledge of truth. Let every one do according to his several ability, willingly helping to bear the burdens. (Counsels on Health, p. 218)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15, KJV)
You may be a great blessing to others if you will give yourself unreservedly to the Lord’s service. Power from on high will be given you if you will take your position on the Lord’s side. Through Christ you can escape the corruption that is in the world through lust, and be a noble example of what He can do for those who cooperate with Him. (Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 489)
God desires men and women to live the higher life. He gives them the boon of life, not to enable them merely to gain wealth, but to improve their higher powers by doing the work He has entrusted to mankind— the work of searching out and relieving the necessities of their fellowmen. Man should work not for his own selfish interest but for the interest of every one about him, blessing others by his influence and kindly deeds. This purpose of God is exemplified in Christ’s life. (Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, p. 645)
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:6, KJV)
When we are humble and contrite we stand where God can and will manifest Himself to us. He is well pleased when we urge past mercies and blessings as a reason why He should bestow on us greater blessings. He will more than fulfill the expectations of those who trust fully in Him. The Lord Jesus knows just what His children need, how much divine power we will appropriate for the blessing of humanity; and He bestows upon us all that we will employ in blessing others and ennobling our own souls. (Help in Daily Living, p. 61)
Those who truly love God will desire so to improve the talents that He has given them, that they may be a blessing to others. And by and by the gates of heaven will be thrown wide open to admit them, and from the lips of the King of Glory the benediction will fall upon their ear like richest music, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). (In Heavenly Places, p. 367)
Questions for Personal Reflection
1. What small things can you do to be a blessing to those around you?
2. Many times it is easier to be a blessing to people who are far away than to your own family. How can you be a blessing to those closest to you?
