Category Archives: Fasting

September 1, 2015 · 2:38 pm

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (9/1/2015)

The above video is taken from a commuter train as it travels through the Mankhurd & Govandi belt in Mumbai India. These areas are slums, which are now larger than the Dharavi slum where the Academy Award winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire, was filmed.

You only have to watch two minutes or so of the video to realize how hopeless and overwhelming the prospects are for these slum dwellers. Although the Indian government has promised solutions, let’s get realistic, okay? These slum dwellers will most likely never see changes in their lifetimes. Maybe their children or grandchildren or great grandchildren will, but even that hinges on politicians keeping their promises.

Today I prayed:

Lord, give prophetic visions to believers with solutions for the slums of Mumbai. Let these visions be like burning fires in the believers’ hearts so that they can do nothing except trust You to fulfill these visions, no matter what obstacles may be in the way. Attract people, resources, and creativity to these visions to propel them to their completions. And Lord, I pray millions of people come to know You because of these visions.

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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July 28, 2015 · 9:01 am

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (7/28/2015)

BASECO Slum in Manila
markpedder.wordpress.com

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners began about four and a half years ago just after I had read Hope Flinchbaugh’s novel, I’ll Cross the River, which depicts the incredible human tragedy occurring today inside North Korea.

Flinchbaugh’s novel stirred me up, but it was the Lord who broke my heart one morning with a vision during my prayer time. In it, I saw a young girl in a prison cell in North Korea. She had been raped, beaten, her teeth chattered from the cold, and she was starving to death. Her clothing consisted of a thin, washed-out dress. She had no blanket or bedding to protect her from the frigid temperatures of North Korea.

As I looked on, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart: “Would you trade places with her?”

Time stood still as I considered my answer.

Now, keep in mind, that the vision seemed so real to me that it actually felt like I was there in the cell with the young girl. I felt the cold and her fear.

Did I really want to change places with her? Absolutely not!

But I also had memorized the following verse:

“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them, and those who are mistreated, since you yourselves are in the body also.” (Hebrews 13:3)

What went through my mind in those seconds of indecision were thoughts of never seeing my wife, children, grandchildren again and being forgotten in that prison cell forever, but I looked at her face once more. She had no hope and didn’t know Jesus.

I finally decided that if this was the Lord’s plan for my life, He would then give me the grace to embrace it.

So, I broke down and said, “Yes, Lord, I will trade places with her because I trust You.”

The vision ended, but I didn’t jump up and rejoice, realizing that the Lord had spared me from an agonizing death. You see, the vision chained me to that girl, to North Korea, China, India, Vietnam, Philippines, and all of Asia.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, help us American believers to hear the cries of the poor and the prisoners of the kingdom of darkness in Asia, so that when we ourselves cry, You hear our cries. (Based on Proverbs 21:13)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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July 23, 2015 · 2:31 pm

Thursday’s Prayers for America (7/23/2015)

“Why are our feet so leaden in moving to the rescue of those who move relentlessly by us to the edge of eternity, and whose one step into it will seal their doom? Why is there at present amongst us this criminal indifference to the lostness of men? And criminal it is!

Have we nothing to communicate? Is our living so inconsistent with our telling? Are we pitiably unsure of the truth of the Bible concerning the lost? Are we so stony-hearted that neither God’s promises not God’s threats disturb us? What octopus has us in its grip? Where will our spiritual polio, our slovenly attention to divine truth land us–and others? (Excerpt from Sodom Had No Bible by Leonard Ravehill)

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I pray that You blow Your trumpet in America, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, and assemble the elders. Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD.” (Based on Joel 2:15-17)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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July 21, 2015 · 1:17 pm

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (7/21/2015)

BASECO Slum in Manila
markpedder.wordpress.com

Today, I prayed:

Lord, open the ears of American believers to hear the cry of the poor children in the slums of Asia. Let the cries so reverberate within us that we will act and give financial offerings so that we fulfill the words of 2 Corinthians 9:9.

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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July 16, 2015 · 2:18 pm

Thursday’s Prayers for America (7/16/2015)

If Gallup and Pew had run polls among the Israeli army and the Philistine army when the two enemies faced each other at Socoh, the polls would have agreed: Israel was doomed. The hearts of the Israeli soldiers and the hearts of King Saul and his generals were filled with panic and fear. Whereas the Philistines were bold and confident in Goliath and their leaders.

But the Gallup and Pew polls would have been totally inaccurate because their surveys would not have included one person: David. The youth was not a part of the Israeli army. He was off in a pasture, herding sheep, spending time with the Lord, and being prepared to fight Goliath.

No one knew the qualifications of David, except God.

It’s my belief that God has thousands of Davids in America, waiting to run toward the Goliaths of our day. Like David, only God knows their qualifications for now, but soon, all will know.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I cry out to You to release Your Davids on America so that all the earth will know there is a God in our nation and that the battle is the Lord’s. (Based on 1 Samuel 17:46-47)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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July 14, 2015 · 8:35 am

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (7/14/2015)

http://www.markpedder.wordpress.com

If you watch the above video which shows the Don Bosco slum in Manila, you’ll soon learn that not every prison is made of steel bars and jail cells. Some are built out of poverty and garbage.

Without ever hearing about the King and His kingdom, these slum dwellers will live their whole lives as prisoners to poverty and the kingdom of darkness. Then, they will die and – most likely – go to Hell.

Do we even care?

Today, I prayed:

Lord, destroy my apathy and help me to share freely and give generously to the poor. (Based on 2 Corinthians 9:9)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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July 9, 2015 · 1:38 pm

Thursday’s Prayers for America (7/9/2015)

In 853 B.C., Israel’s King Ahab and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat were working out a military alliance to fight Syria. Jehoshaphat agreed to Ahab’s terms, but also said —

“But first let’s find out what the LORD says.” (1 Kings 22:5)

King Ahab brought out four hundred prophets and asked them whether Israel should go to war against Syria or refrain from doing so. All of the prophets proclaimed that God was with Israel and Syria would be defeated.

Even though there was perfect unity among the prophets, Jehoshaphat asked —

“Is there not also a prophet of the LORD here? We should ask him the same question.” (1 Kings 22:7)

King Ahab replied —

“There is one more man who could consult the LORD for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.” (1 Kings 22:8)

Eventually, the prophet Micaiah arrived on the scene and proclaimed that the four hundred prophets had prophesied according to a lying spirit and not the Spirit of the Lord. Micaiah then prophesied the death of King Ahab and the defeat of Israel and Judea in the battle against Syria.

Both kings ignored Micaiah and followed the counsel of the lying spirit. The prophet Micaiah’s words proved to be accurate.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, send prophets to America who are willing to speak Your words no matter the cost to themselves, but also Lord, I pray for those who have spiritual ears, to listen and to understand what the Spirit is saying to our nation. (Based on Revelation 2:29)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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July 7, 2015 · 10:35 am

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (7/7/2015)

Slum in Manila
markpedder.wordpress.co

We all think of J. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, as a mighty man of faith, but that’s because we can look at his accomplishments on the mission field. Yet, in the mid-1800’s, he was considered a radical and an oddball by other missionary societies who even warned their people to stay away from him.

Why was Taylor considered a radical and an oddball?

Because he dared to evangelize and do missionary work in China far differently than the accepted practices of the other missionary societies.

Not long ago, a biographer said of J. Hudson Taylor:

No other missionary in the nineteen centuries since the Apostle Paul has had a wider vision and has carried out a more systematised plan of evangelising a broad geographical area than Hudson Taylor. (Ruth Tucker)

Today, I prayed:

Lord, raise up hundreds of radical oddballs for Asia who dare to trust Your ways and are willing to ignore the accepted practices of our day. Pour out Your anointing upon them and set them loose in the various nations of Asia.

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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July 2, 2015 · 8:41 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America (7/2/2015)

On the first Palm Sunday, Jesus rode on a donkey heading to Jerusalem for the upcoming Passover. His journey was a short one which began in the neighboring town of Bethphage.

The road was crowded with people. His disciples. Pharisees and scribes. And thousands of pilgrims from the Jewish diaspora.

For Passover, Jerusalem’s normal population of 120,000 swelled to nearly a million people as Jews from all over the Middle East returned to observe the feast. It was a profitable event for Jewish merchants, much like Christmas for today’s retail merchants.

As Jesus rode along, His disciples began praising God, saying, “Hosanna! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David. Blessed is the King.”

In the midst of the hubbub and excitement, Jesus paused at a spot on the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem and the Temple. This was the exact spot where Jews throughout history had mourned and wept over the Temple.

So, when Jesus stopped and wept at the overlook, the people would have hushed and anticipated a historic speech. Then, He said:

“Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes…because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:42, 44-b)

Too late! Jesus wept because it was too late to save Jerusalem from God’s Judgment, which happened forty years later.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, send the Holy Spirit to American believers to open our hearts up to the love of Your truth so that we will be saved from our deceptions and lies. (Based on 2 Thessalonians 2:10)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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June 30, 2015 · 7:29 am

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (6/30/2015)

Children’s Church
markpeddar.wordpress.com

In Asia, over 2.5 million children – as young as 4 years old – are enslaved in the sex trade as prostitutes. Half of the total is located in the world’s largest democracy, India.

The reasons for such high numbers include poverty, drugs, lack of morals, political corruption, and huge profits for the brothels and pimps. Murder and accidental death rates are high for the child prostitutes, as are suicides, and very few trafficking victims are ever rescued or escape.

As hopeless and as horrendous as these facts are, we can make a difference through our prayers and fasts.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, You said that if we prayed and fasted, You would hear our voices on high. So, Lord, I ask that You honor Your words spoken through Isaiah that the chains of wickedness enslaving the child prostitutes in Asia are broken and that these oppressed children are set free right now, in Jesus’ name. (Based on Isaiah 58)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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