31 Days of Prayer: DAY 27

FOCUS VERSES: “Pursue love, and use your ambition to try to get spiritual gifts but especially so that you might prophesy.” —1 Corinthians 14:1 (CEB)

PRAYER OF PRESENCE: 

Gracious God,
As we pause in this moment, still our minds and quiet our hearts.
Let Your Spirit fill us with courage and compassion.
Open our eyes to see Your work around us,
And guide our steps to walk in Your love and truth.
In Christ’s name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 14:1-12

HYMN FOR REFLECTION:

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf4pXhXiTes 

A Charge To Keep I Have
Charles Wesley, 1707–1788

1. A charge to keep I have,
   a God to glorify,
   a never-dying soul to save,
   and fit it for the sky.
2. To serve the present age,
   my calling to fulfill;
   O may it all my powers engage
   to do my Master's will!
3. Arm me with jealous care,
   as in thy sight to live,
   and oh, thy servant, Lord, prepare
   a strict account to give!
4. Help me to watch and pray,
   and on thyself rely,
   assured, if I my trust betray,
   I shall forever die.

REFLECTION

Of all the people who speak on God’s behalf in the Scriptures, prophets, without question, struggle the most. From a biblical perspective, prophets are by nature outsiders to the established order. They are ordinary people who receive a divine call to deliver God’s message to God’s people. Prophets are shaped by their times, growing up amidst the challenges and realities their peers experience. Yet, one thing sets prophets apart from priests, diviners, and others: prophets serve as diagnosticians, exposing the social and spiritual ailments of their time, and prognosticators, prescribing a God-ordained path to guaranteed restoration, transformation, and salvation.

I love the prophets! Prophets have a special place in my heart. My love for prophets stems from their boldness and faithfulness—even in the face of criticism and personal danger. Prophets are not fortune-tellers or predictors of trivial events. Instead, prophets are deeply connected to God’s heart and purpose. They call attention to the cracks in society, the injustices that go unchecked, and the ways the people of God have strayed from their covenant. Prophets challenge complacency, offering words that are often hard to hear but necessary for transformation.

In 1 Corinthians 14:1-12, Paul calls on the church to pursue spiritual gifts, with a particular emphasis on prophecy. Why? Because prophecy, unlike other gifts, is meant to build up the community of faith. Prophets point the way toward a God-preferred future, and in doing so, they speak God’s truth in ways that encourage, challenge, and bring clarity. Paul reminds us that spiritual gifts are not about individual glorification but about edifying the body of Christ. The gift of prophecy—rooted in love—helps the church stay aligned with God’s purpose.

This reminder resonates deeply with us today. We live in a world marked by division, injustice, and spiritual disconnection. Like the prophets of old, we are called to be truth-tellers and vision-casters, pointing the way toward God’s kingdom of justice, love, and reconciliation. But this calling requires more than just bold words; it demands that we root ourselves in God’s love and live out the truth we proclaim.

As we reflect on Paul’s encouragement to pursue prophecy, let us also examine our own lives. Are we attentive to the Spirit’s leading? Are we willing to see the cracks in our own communities and speak God’s truth, even when it is uncomfortable? Are we using our gifts—not for personal gain—but to build up the body of Christ and make God’s love known in the world?

Prophecy is not just about speaking; it is about living in a way that aligns with God’s purpose and inspires others to do the same. Let us pursue this gift with humility, courage, and love, trusting that God’s Spirit will guide us as we work to transform the world for God’s glory.

What visions has God given you for the future of our church, community, and world?

 CLOSING PRAYER:

Oh my Lord,
I am carrying too much luggage,
and it’s weighing me down,
holding me back.
I worry about losing it,
but I don’t need much of the stuff I’m dragging about.
It blocks up the aisles and gangways,
getting in the way,
making people cross and wrapping itself round my ankles.
I need to learn to travel light,
but I don’t know what to do with all this stuff. 

Here,
you take it.
I’m leaving it with you.
Perhaps you can find a better use for it. 

For who knows me better than you, 
who has given me the substance of my life,
bone and marrow, patterned in my mother’s womb? 

You are my unfolding and my unburdening.
You are the keeper of my deepest secrets. 

— Kathy Galloway (b. 1952)

WEEKLY PRACTICE: Jan 26 - 31 (Sun - Fri) 

Intercession: Considering Others in Prayer

These final days of the 31 days of prayer is a chance to build a bridge that connects the habit of prayer in many ways with the evangelistic work of all of us as people of faith. Each day, take time to pray for someone else. Do this by name. Speak or journal with a heart for wholistic health and well being in body, mind, and spirit. Consider a need or desire they have and if prompted within, intercede for them by asking for God’s divine provision in their lives. Whether you trust that prayer is all you are called to do in the moment or you feel prompted to be present in other ways such as an invitation to connect, walk with them through a difficult moment, or otherwise be the hands and feet of Christ in their lives, do so without hesitation. Have faith that God is at work in you and your prayers and that by faith your intercessions will open up the windows of heaven in the others’ lives. 

All honor and glory to God and may God bless you and keep you as you listen and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit in your prayers. Amen.