As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish … so is My word that goes out from My mouth. It will not return to Me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
 
The currency of communion with God is a coin with Scripture on one side and prayer on the other. Both prayer and Bible study are necessary for intimacy with the Lord.
 
We are probably all aware of the danger of diligent Bible study without time spent in bare-hearted prayer. Knowledge can puff me up with pride. False pride!  I congratulate myself on how much I know about God, but do I know Him? Voluminous head knowledge also makes me prone to hypocrisy.
 
But if I pray without soaking in Scripture, I am susceptible to other dangers. I miss hearing from God since He often speaks through His word. It’s hard to pray God’s will if I haven’t learned from Scripture what that is. I find I can’t pray humbly without constant reminders from Scripture of who God is and who I am. My prayers are heavy on requests and light on praise without Scripture as a tutor.
 
I encourage you to make daily Bible reading and study a priority this week and always! Let the Bible inform and discipline your prayers.
 
Here are some prayer topics for this week:
 
1.  Next weekend, March 4-6, is our Junior High students’ turn for winter camp. Pray that these teenagers would “own” the Christian faith for themselves, realizing that they cannot ride the spiritual coattails of parents or anyone else.
 
2.  The men of Calvary are gathering for the Men’s Breakfast next Saturday, March 5. Pray for enjoyable and purposeful fellowship. Lift up Brent Slezak as he prepares and shares his testimony.   
 
3.  Be faithful in prayer for Pastor Tomasz Chylka and his wife, Kamilla, in Pszczyna in southern Poland. Pray for Tomasz’s health. He has been ill for six weeks and is getting better but feeling weary. Pray for lasting positive impact from a youth conference this last weekend led by the Chylkas’ son, Denis. The topic of the conference for 100 young people was practical sanctification. The women of the Chylkas’ church are planning an event on March 12 focused on relationships. Based on what I know about the Pszczyna church, this event is probably an outreach event, reaching women who have not heard the gospel. Pray that it will produce valuable Kingdom fruit.

4.  We at Calvary will have the opportunity to produce fruit for God’s kingdom this summer through our Summer Mission Outreach, also known as Vacation Bible School. The team’s desire is draw many children from the community who are not part of Calvary to hear the gospel and grow in faith. Pray for provision of the 100+ workers it will take to prepare for and run the program.
 
5.  Pray for parents of young children and teenagers – for wisdom from above, for tenacity, for the ability to deeply understand each child.
 
6.  Lift up foster children, who do not have the blessing of good, or even just-OK,  parents. Ask the Lord to give them a hope and a purpose for the future.
 
7.  In his pride the wicked does not seek [the LORD]; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. (Psalm 10:4) Think of someone you know who is not a believer and pray that the Lord would intrude on his or her thoughts.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert, Prayer Chair
Calvary Community Church of Brea

P.S.  It was wonderful to see Greg Hodgson in church yesterday. Praise God that Greg was well enough to be there.