WELCOME

Welcome to our 10 Days of Prayer & Praise. We will meet every morning to
pray at 6.30am and then for an hour at 7.30pm to praise. We really hope that
you will join us at one or both of these times during the 10 days. We would also
encourage you to take the opportunity to fast and abstain during the 10 days.
You might want to abstain from watching TV or from Social media. The idea is
to give something up that would create more space and time to read and pray. If
you want to fast you could choose to eat just one meal a day or maybe skip
dinner everyday or you can do the Daniel fast (where you eat only vegetables
and water). Its completely up to you, but we would encourage you to do
something.
This 10 devotional has a reading for each day and through it we will be looking
at a dierent promise of God to us his people. The bible is full of Promises, iron
clad, unbreakable guarantees from the Word of God that are FOR YOU! The
promises of God have your name on them! So everyday as you read remember
the promises are not just for other people they are yours as well!

DAY 1
If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and
seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and
will forgive their sin and heal their land 2 Chronicles 7:14
Never have two letters implied so much. As we reach the end of this verse we
find the most incredible promise, but its that little word at the start If which
actually determines whether we see the fulfillment of this particular promise.
The dictionary defines the word IF like this: On condition that; provided that;
as long as.........
AS LONG AS we humble ourselves, (which means the quality of having a
modest or low view of one's importance, in light of who He is); PROVIDED
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THAT we pray and seek His face (taking that time to rest in His presence, build
your relationship with Him and pray); ON CONDITION that we turn from
deliberate sin (not living as we please, giving in to every desire of the flesh),
then He will hear from heaven, forgive us and heal our land.
The bible says in 1 Peter 1:13 16: Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully
sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is
revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires
you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be
holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.
Our purpose on this earth is to love our Saviour and share Him with everyone
we come into contact with, it must be our hearts cry to see our families, town
and country changed for Jesus and His Kingdom, to pray that mighty revival
power will be poured out over our church and town as we humble ourselves
before His majesty. Lets begin to claim this mighty promise today!
Thank you Lord, do it again we pray!

DAY 2
January is the month of the diet. More diets start (and end) in January than any
other month. In Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus tells us how to really lose weight.
Jesus oers anyone who is interested a way to lose the weight and burden of
trying to achieve, trying to attain, trying to please God by ourselves. He gives a
promise of rest in place of weariness. He oers us the chance to set down our
burdens, the heavy weight of achievement religion. Jesus says Come to me, all
you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls.
Eugene Peterson paraphrases this verse like this. Are you tired? Worn out?
Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and youll recover your
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life. Ill show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me
watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I wont lay anything
heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and youll learn to live freely
and lightly.
I dont know about you but that sounds good to me. As we start a new year
wouldnt it be great to learn the unforced rhythms of grace wouldnt it be great
to grab Jesus promise of rest with both hands. Religion and grace are not the
same.
In case you dont understand the dierence between religion and grace let me
try to explain:
Religion says be a better person and God might love you
Grace says God already loves you
Religion says it's about what I do
Grace says it's about what Jesus did
Religion says you have to reach or hit a certain mark to be accepted
Grace says Jesus did everything that was needed for you to be accepted
Religion says you have to earn
Grace says its all a gift
Religion says look at me
Grace says look to Jesus
Religion say you owe a debt
Grace says paid in full
Religion says do
Grace says DONE!
Grace is a much better fit than religion. Why not accept Jesus oer of rest today!

DAY 3
Then after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and
your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on
servants men and woman alike. Joel 2 v 28, 29
What a promise! On the day of Pentecost God poured out his Spirit on His
people just as Joel had prophesied many years before. As believers this is a gift
that God so freely oers to us when we are saved, the promised Holy Spirit.
In Billy Grahams book Holy Spirit he says:
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Exciting revolutionary power is available exclusively to you as a Christian... it is

the supernatural power... You cannot buy this extraordinary power, nor can you
find it by searching the earth for it. As a Christian it resides in you already, an
awesome gift from God that you have only to claim and use once you know and
accept its source.
When we receive a special gift, as I am sure many of you did at Christmas, you
do not hide it away, but instead proudly put it on display or use it every day. The
Holy Spirit is such a wonderful gift that we cannot let him lie hidden inside us.
This promise is a privilege. We are given the gift of the Spirit so let us make the
most of this great gift and let him influence us in our everyday lives, by letting
Him guide us and empower us in all we do. No matter who you are, young or
old, God wants to be active in your life through His Spirit, and He wants to
speak to us through dreams and visions and give us other gifts of the Spirit,
such as prophesy along with others mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12. Through
these giftings we have the opportunity to glorify God in every aspect of our lives.
We need to make the choice to live in the full potential we have through the
power of the Spirit! As we seek God in these 10 days, lets be bold and ask Him
for gifts we have not asked for before. Lets be open to the leading of the Spirit
in every area of our lives and seek the things He has for us. Desire that He
would reveal His heart to you through dreams and visions and really believe that
He will.

DAY 4
I have loved you my people with an everlasting love, I have drawn
you to myself Jeremiah 31:3
What an amazing promise that Gods love is forever, it doesnt diminish or fade
with time or circumstances. We all need to experience and know we are loved,
it is the greatest desire in all our hearts to belong, be part of a family, to gain
support and courage from being loved.
We have just celebrated Christmas and the airports and ferry ports were
overloaded with people wanting to be home with those they love, it is amazing
that God wants to be with us. God is on an unrelenting pursuit to love His
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people and to draw close to them into an intimate loving relationship, nothing
will get in His way. As someone said, Gods love, time never knew its beginning
and eternity shall never know its end. In this world, love and kindness are
scarce, isnt it such a boost and faith builder to know God, our Father is
constantly loving us and drawing us close.
Emmanuel, God with us, in every situation that may come into our lives. I
know personally when those I love are with me, I find strength to face problems.
NEVER underestimate the power of love.
A college sociology study was sent to study the case histories of 200 young boys
in the citys worst slums; in almost all the projected future of the boys it was
said, He hasnt got a chance. Twenty five years later a follow up study found
with the exception of 20 boys, who died or moved on, of the test 176 of 180
went on to amazing success, as lawyers, doctors and leading businessmen.
When interviewed, what did they put their success down to? All of them
pointed to a teacher in the slum school who influenced them. The teacher was
still alive and when asked what was her secret in changing the future of these
no hoper boys, she replied, Simple! I just loved those boys.
Remember how God loves you and gain strength from that, We can do all
things through Christ, who strengthens us. As The Message puts it in
Jeremiah 31:3 God told them, Ive never quit loving you and never will, expect
love, love and more love.

DAY 5
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Israel finds themselves in one of the toughest seasons of their history. They
stand in captivity once more and deliverance seems impossible. As they cry out
to God they are then oered a false prophecy (just to add to the load!). In the
previous chapter Hananiah, the false prophet, had spoken false hope over their
lives (God is going to restore Israel in 2 years Jer 28:2). In their desperation
Israel believed the false message.

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The start of chapter 29 sees Jeremiah speaking Gods words to rectify the false
prophecy: They are prophesying lies to you in my name (Jer 29:9). Then we
find ourselves at that famous verse - Jeremiah 29:11 - a reminder to all Israel at
this point that God knew HIS plans and had not forgotten them. Some
translations put this verse as I know my thoughts towards you; He was
already outworking His plans for their lives and they were on His mind
constantly. This verse didnt speak the immediate deliverance Israel longed for;
which meant they needed to endure this situation for even longer. BUT THERE
WAS HOPE - Gods plans were being outworked - and they were for the best!
While that might not have been what Israel wanted to hear, we can see as we
read that it was the best purpose for them.
Perhaps today this verse is almost clich to you. Perhaps today, like Israel in this
story, it finds you in the toughest season of your life. Remember this verse - not
as a clich or as an immediate deliverance, but as the promise that God has NOT
forgotten you. In fact, YOU are in His thoughts right now! Let this verse remind
you that God is out-working His plan and purpose at this very moment - and His
timing is perfect!
I leave you with this quote from Matthew Henry: Promises are given to quicken
and encourage prayer.

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DAY 6
John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same
works I have done, and even greater works because I am going to be with the
Father.
These words of Jesus are both perplexing and yet powerful and inspiring. What
they are saying is, as believers we have the privilege and God given promise and
authority to carry on the Lords works and even exceed in extent, His Kingdom.
What a magnificent mission we are on, inspired by the Holy Spirit, prayed for by
Jesus and encouraged by our loving Father.
What amazes me is, this is for ALL Christians, not just professional Christians,
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mature or highly gifted. No it means you and me, believers pure and simple, will
do the works of Jesus. You can pray for people, witness and demonstrate Gods
power through your life.
We have seen this exact phrase before in the book of John . . .
Whoever believes in me ....
shall never thirst. (John 6:35)
out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38)
though he die, yet shall he live. (John 11:25)
will not remain in the darkness. (John 12:46)
In other words, this is normal Christianity, when we believe in Jesus this is what
God promises us. The works and miracles of Jesus were demonstrations of His
power and were to help people believe.
Verse 12: If my spoken testimony is leaving doubts in your mind about who I
am, look at my works. Let the works join with my words and lead you to faith.
Jesus is saying, as we as His church, all believers show Gods power through our
daily lives, we too will lead people to believe in God in greater numbers. In this
New Year of opportunities, lets not hesitate to carry on the work of our Lord
and Saviour and do those things that will bear witness to Jesus.

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DAY 7
One of the greatest promises in all of scripture is found in Isaiah 1:18 Come
now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, Though your sins are like
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they
shall be as wool.
In this verse, its almost like God wants to argue a point with us, is trying to
convince us of a promise. Let us reason together. Lets talk about this! Listen
to me! I know how deep dyed your sins are. I know how deep and dark your
heart can be BUT listen, pay attention, hear what I am saying Though your sins
are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson,
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they shall be as wool.

In 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne published his classic American novel, The Scarlet
Letter. In the story a young woman, Hester Prynne, is found guilty of adultery.
She is required to wear a scarlet A on her dress - the symbol of shame. We dont
wear our shame like that on the outside, but often we wear our shame on the
inside. Often we know and feel how deep and dark our sins are. We feel unclean,
unworthy, even unloved.
Mark Batterson writes We often project our self contempt onto God, assuming
that God must be as angry with us as we are with ourselves.
BUT God actually promises us a divine exchange, our sin for His righteousness.
God says I can and will make you clean, I will make you as pure as the driven
snow. No matter what you think of yourself, no matter how deep and dark you
feel or are, I can and will make you clean, if you let me.
In American law they have something called The law of double jeopardy, double
jeopardy is a procedural defense that forbids a defendant from being tried again
on the same (or similar) charges following a legitimate acquittal or conviction.
1 Corinthians 5:21 tells us For God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for
us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
God can stand over His promise to make us clean because Jesus was convicted,
condemned and took the punishment for all our sin, no matter how deep dyed
and dark it was or is. He has already been convicted of our sin so we cant be
charged with it again. There are no charges to answer. Let that sink in today!
Believe what you hear. Listen to what God has to say, Come now, and let us
reason together, says the Lord, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be
as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

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DAY 8
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it
will be done for you John 15:7
Is there a better place to be than in Him?
As with most of the beautiful promises of God, we seem to have the fulfillment
of the promise and the how to part, but isnt it wonderful that sometimes the
how to part is amazing in itself? In this verse we are told that if we remain in
Him we can ask for whatever we wish and it will be done for us! Wow, what a
promise, and even better than that, we get to REMAIN in Him too.
Think for a moment, our Lord and Saviour wants to have the kind of
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relationship with us were we remain together, talk together, and get to know
each other. Jesus wants an intimate relationship with us, but not just so we can
get what we want, but because He loves and adores us, this in itself should stop
us in our tracks and cause us to break into joyous thankfulness.
Our thought today must be, what does it mean to remain in Him? Its
incredibly humbling to know that we can have that sense of being attached to, in
step with, connected to, and part of Jesus Christ, but what does remaining in
Him truly entail? As with everything else in this blessed Christian life we get to
walk, we will always be learning and relearning how to fully remain in Him, but
one commentary writes this:
As Gods children, we need to walk in fellowship with Him. This idea of
fellowship is expressed, especially by John, with the word abide or remain,
which is the Greek meno, to abide, dwell, live, remain. Our refusal or failure
to abide in fellowship with Him means the loss of His abiding in us in the sense,
not of His presence, but of His intimacy, control, and ability to direct our lives.
Today, dont only desire what He can give you, crave intimacy with Him and
pursue Him. What a truly blessed people we are.

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DAY 9
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass
through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. Isaiah 43:2
When you go through deep waters I will be with you. Life has a way of taking
us through times when we feel we are going to drown or be swept away. It is
interesting that the bible makes it clear, we will at some time find ourselves in
deep water. One day all can be calm and plain sailing and before we know it we
are in a storm. It reminds me of that incident in Mark 4 when Jesus asks His
disciples to cross the lake, at first all seems good, so much so that Jesus goes for
a nap in the stern of the boat. Then out of nowhere a storm hits the lake and
panic ensues. The disciples, experienced fishermen and sailors, cant cope and
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in the middle of all this Jesus is asleep. Have you ever felt that way, it seems
you are in the eye of a storm and as a Christian, a follower of Jesus, you cant
cope? All those questions fill your mind, why me? I thought Jesus would take
care of me, where is He now?
How can God be asleep while I am in danger of drowning, being swept away?
The disciples in the boat up to their knees in water had one thing going for
them. They knew who to turn to in time of trouble. They wake Jesus up, all be
it roughly, Lord, dont you care if we drown?
Jesus, a bit bleary eyed rebukes the wind and waves and all is calm again. If only
they had known and trusted, in those promises in Isaiah 43:2 they would have
realised that God would see them safely through this storm. In our lives we
need to hold fast to Gods promises and when trouble undoubtedly comes to our
door, turn to the only one who can speak peace to the elements. Even if the
water is up to our neck, at the right moment, God will lift us up and we will not
drown or be swept away.

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DAY 10
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world
gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
There can be no doubt in our minds when we read this promise that God means
what He says, its so good He says it twice! Peace I leave with you; my peace I
give you.
CS Lewis puts it like this: God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from
Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
We know that our hope is experienced in Him; we realise that our joy is
complete in Him, and of course we now see that our peace can only be found in
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Him. The world has a way of tricking us into thinking that we have a semblance
of peace, when things seem to be going well, when our families are healthy,
when we have food to put on our tables, but this peace that Jesus gives is so
much more and it shows up not only in the thankfulness of those times of
blessing, but even more so in times of trouble.
We are reminded in Philippians 4:6&7 that we should not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Now we are seeing that Gods peace is a guard over our hearts and minds, a
promise that is vital for our well being and actually our mental state. To be at
peace is to say that we trust our lives to a God who can indeed be trusted, and as
we bring our prayers to Him and choose trust over anxiousness then that peace
promises to guard us.
What an incredible way to finish our 10 days of Prayer & Praise, with the
promises of a healthy, guarded mind and heart as we trust in His sovereignty
and goodness for our lives.
Thank You Lord that You never fail us, thank You that after giving us the
greatest gift of Your only Son Jesus that You still continue to Father us and pour
out your blessing and peace upon our lives through Your promises. You alone
are worthy of every part of us, so today again we will pursue Your presence and
honour You with our lives. We love You Lord. Amen

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