October 2010 Prayer Calendar

“O Living Stream! O Gracious Rain None wait for Thee, and wait in vain.”
- Gerhard Tersteegen

1 The Blue Team began a 15-day summit this past Sunday at New Life Community Church in Inwood, West Virginia. Pray that God's Spirit would be pleased to bring fresh conviction, deep humility, and refreshing revival to those seeking Him.

2 Middle school youth gather at the Life Action Camp this weekend for an IGNITE retreat. Pray that hearts will be open to the work of God's Spirit and decisions will be made that will provide a foundation of purity through the teen years.

3 Today, the White Team begins an 8-day summit at People's Church in Wyoming, Ontario. Ask God to work in such a way that His power accomplishes a deep work of grace in the congregation, spilling over into the surrounding community.

4 Yesterday, the Red Team opened an 11-day summit at Cloverdale Baptist Church in Dothan, Alabama. Pray for a work of grace that reaches below surface circumstances and powerfully changes hearts.

5 Pray for the pastors and their wives gathering for a three-day Romantic Reflections marriage retreat at The Lodge. Ask God to refresh and restore their spiritual, physical, and emotional energy during this getaway time.

6 The staff revivalists, family seminar instructors, and their families willingly cover thousands of miles each year to minister in churches across the U.S. and Canada. Pray for Ryan and Maryann Loveing, Ben and Jennifer Slenk (White Team); Steve and Debby Canfield, Tom Nesbitt, and Tim Hight (Blue Team); Laine and Janet Johnson, and Wilson and Laura Green (Red Team) as they seek to follow the leadership of God's Spirit.

7 Several of our staff serve as pre-summit speakers in addition to their other roles. Pray for Byron Paulus, Del Fehsenfeld, Lane Gordon, Allen Mazelin, John Myers, and JR Rohrman as they travel and prepare congregations for the upcoming meetings with our teams.

8 High school youth are coming to the Life Action Camp for an IGNITE retreat this weekend. Pray that they will obey whatever God shows them.

9 The iMedia department presents Life Action's ministries through up-to-date graphics and media tools. Pray for creativity and anointing on these staff.

10 We welcome Nathan and Jessica Paulus, one of our newest National Ministry Center staff families. Pray for them as they adjust to their new home and responsibilities and as Nathan works on special projects.

11 Tom and Joyce Harmon, a couple who passionately loves God's Word, guide this week's Fall Family Camp. Pray that the week will be one of significant spiritual and practical growth for the attending families.

12 During these days, speakers, support staff, and Revive Our Hearts personnel travel to Ft. Worth, Texas, for the True Woman conference taking place this weekend. Pray for safety, health, energy, and opportunities to share Christ as they drive and fly to the conference.

13 Ask God to anoint the True Woman leaders, speakers, facilitators, and volunteers with His power as they unite in prayer today and tomorrow, preparing to minister to women who are thirsty to experience God's outpouring during the retreat.

14 Intercede for those attending the True Woman conference in Ft. Worth, Texas, that this weekend will truly be a time when strongholds of unbelief will crumble and new passion for Jesus Christ will replace deceptive thoughts and desires.

15 Pray again for the True Woman conference, which is now underway. Especially pray for Nancy Leigh DeMoss and the Revive Our Hearts staff as they seek to discern God's direction for each session. Plead with God to raise up generations of godly women.

16 Tomorrow, the White Team begins an 11-day summit at Fellowship Baptist Church in Cobourg, Ontario. Pray for open, obedient hearts on the part of the leaders, team, and congregation.

17 A 15-day Blue Team summit opens today at Lakeview Baptist Church in Monroe, North Carolina. Intercede for the leaders, people, and team. Ask God to send genuine, Christ-centered refreshment and revival.

18 The Red Team's summit at Bethel Baptist Church in Dothan, Alabama, opened yesterday and continues through October 27. Intercede for the congregation, leaders, and team, asking God to make His powerful and gracious presence evident.

19 Pray for the pastors and their wives who have gathered for a week-long retreat at The Lodge. Ask God to deeply refresh their spirits, souls, and bodies through His Word, preparing them for even more effective service when they return to their homes and churches.

20 Welcome to Nathan and Katie Bollinger, a young couple who joined the Revive Our Hearts staff this summer. Ask God to give them all that is needed as they assume their responsibilities.

21 Congratulations to Nathan Roth, Life Action staff member for seven years, who is recently engaged to be married! Pray that God will guide Nathan and Amanda as they seek God in planning for their future together.

22 Fathers and sons will "take over" the Life Action Camp this weekend. Pray that their hearts will be turned toward each other in life-changing ways through God's power.

23 At the staff and team commissioning service this past August, Dr. Erwin Lutzer of The Moody Church in Chicago challenged our staff to help prepare a new generation of young people who will follow Christ, even as martyrs if He calls them to that. Pray for wisdom for this task.

24 Pray that God gives Dave Warn wisdom and open doors as he and his staff minister through Collegiate Impact this fall.

25 Today begins a Pastors' Retreat at The Lodge. Stand beside these faithful servants and their wives through your prayers, asking God to encourage and strengthen them through His Word.

26 A week from today, many citizens across the U.S. will vote for candidates running for leadership positions in their communities. Pray that those who honor God and His ways will be elected.

27 There are several Revive Our Hearts staff members who serve from their hometowns, visiting the Michigan office as their responsibilities require. Please pray today for Susan Henson, Sarah Krause, Jim and Bonnie Lang, Gary McCauley, Mike and Terry Morledge, Sarah Stevenson, and Dawn Wilson.

28 The young people who staff the traveling teams have been ministering continually since the beginning of September. Pray that God provides daily stamina as they face the challenges of each summit and THIRST conference this fall.

29 Tom Harmon ministers again this month at the Life Action Camp, this time for the MoMENtum retreat geared to men sixteen and older. Intercede for those attending, asking God to raise up men who will be mighty in spirit for His glory.

30 The White Team begins a 4-day THIRST conference tomorrow at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Barrie, Ontario. Pray that God's Spirit will accomplish much for His kingdom during these short but intense days.

31 The Red Team opens an 11-day summit at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Ozark, Alabama, today. Pray for deep, Spirit-directed work and great obedience on the part of the leaders, team, and congregation.

Live

Sandy looked across the backyard of her nice home in a pleasant neighborhood to the parking area of a small apartment building across the street. She'd been praying for the children there, who had little adult supervision. One day she took some snacks and an illustrated children's Bible lesson, crossed the street, set up a folding chair, and began a little Bible club, teaching the children—and later their parents—of the love of Christ.

Gary wanted to give but hardly had two dimes to rub together. Preparing to join a ministry that would provide his housing, he planned to sell his current home for a greatly anticipated lump sum. However, at God's prompting, he gave his house to a friend who needed a home and entrusted his own future to God.

Amy, who had been married for several years, became acquainted with a sweet Christian young woman from another country. The young lady was preparing for marriage but couldn't afford a wedding dress. God prompted Amy to take her own wedding dress out of storage and give it to the young lady.

Darlene has an old home, old kitchen appliances, little cash, and a crazy schedule. Yet Sunday mornings, she is very likely to invite visitors to eat with her after church.

Give

Each of the real people mentioned in the "Live" section illustrates an important giving principle. Like the Macedonian Christians in II Corinthians 8:1-5, they gave from what they had. They didn't disqualify themselves from the joy of giving because they couldn't write a $10,000 check, hadn't discovered a lost treasure in their attic, or founded a million-dollar business. When God directed, they unreservedly opened their hands and shared from their unique resources.

The Phillips translation of this passage reads, "Nor was their gift, as I must confess I had expected, a mere cash payment. Instead they made a complete dedication of themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because God willed it."

We are told in verses 2 and 3 that the Macedonian Christians gave out of their deep poverty, and would have joyfully given more if possible. We give, not out of what we hope to have someday, but out of what we have today; and God multiplies it.

In Exodus 4:2, God asked Moses, "What is that in your hand?" Moses used the staff in his hand in obedience to God, and it became a tool empowered by Israel's Faithful Deliverer and Egypt's Righteous Judge.

What is in your hand today? Will you give from what you have—time, compassion, prayer, food, skills, other God-given resources—that others might be blessed? 

Download pdf of the October prayer calendar.

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