A Prayer Guide corresponding with the today’s Bible Reading Plan: Isaiah 53/ Theme: Jesus is calling! /23-BSG-53B, (Isaiah 53:5)/ Hymn: Jesus is tenderly calling thee home, [Author: Fanny Crosby]

Key Text: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.” (Isaiah 53:5, AMP)

Opening Remarks: Isaiah 53 gives us a vivid view of the Cross of Calvary more than any other passage in the Old Testament. Let me begin by this quote—“He who has had a vivid view of the cross, will hate sin, and love righteousness. His doubts will vanish in the clear light reflected from the cross of Calvary.” Beloved, as we come to the today’s Prayer Session, we are invited to— respond positively to the cross of Jesus. We do this by dealing with our sins: when we hate sin, and love righteousness!

Listen to these inspired words — “Lose no time, let not another day pass into eternity, but just as you are, whatever your weakness, your unworthiness, your neglect, delay not to come now.… The call of Jesus to come to Him, the presentation of a crown of glory that fadeth not away, the life, the eternal life that measures with the life of God, has not been of sufficient inducement to lead you to serve Him with your undivided affections.…

Be no longer on Satan’s side of the question. Make decided, radical changes through the grace given you of God. No longer insult His grace. He is saying with tears, “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40). Now Jesus is inviting you, knocking at the door of your heart for entrance. Will you let Him come in? [That I May Know Him, p. 56].

Values To Build On: Detesting sins; genuine Repentance; striving for Righteousness.

Sins To Avoid/ Confess: All sins — Sins that are committed directly against God; those that are committed directly against other people; and those that are committed directly against oneself. It is certainly true that all sin is committed against God (Psalm 51:4). A good place to begin examining ourselves will be the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20).

Something To Thank God For: Prophecies concerning Jesus Christ; Compassion of Jesus Christ; Voluntary death of Jesus Christ; Design of His Death on Calvary; Holiness of Jesus Christ; Substitution of Jesus Christ; Willing obedience of Jesus Christ; Love of Jesus Christ; Meekness of Jesus Christ; Perfections of Jesus Christ; Salvation from Jesus Christ; Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

People To Pray For: Enemies of the Cross of Jesus Christ—to be converted (saved) and “to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4).

Issues To Pray For: Studies on the Cross & the grave danger of neglecting Christ (Heb. 2:3; 6:4-6); Emotional aspects of suffering; Need for God’s guidance amidst trials; Humility; Christ’s righteousness.

Today’s Promise: “Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment]’ (Isaiah 53:4a, AMP) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NKJV)

Action Step: Take a moment to Examine Yourself: Do you see any Specific Sins listed above in your life? If Yes; Confess and Repent right away. Remember – “Sins that have not been repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned, and blotted out of the books of record, but will stand to witness against the sinner in the day of God.” (The Faith I Live By, p. 211). Take a moment to pray for issues listed above; Pray for someone who is struggling with these sins. If you have a Prayer Request(s), kindly write it below and someone will pray for it. God Bless You!

Prayer: Father, we thank You so much for Your word in Isaiah 53. We thank You for the Cross of Jesus Christ. We thank You for the precious promises in Your word, that “If we confess our sins,”  You are “faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We thank You for the humility of the our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: though He is/ was God (one with You); He did not think this ‘equality with God’ a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained; instead He became like men and was born a human being! He stripped Himself (of all divine privileges, majesty, and dignity), so as to assume the guise of a servant (a slave), in order to reach us and saves us! So He came and washed our feet, and saved us! And then, He abased and humbled Himself (still further) and carried His obedience to the next level — the death, even the death of the cross! What wondrous love!

Help us to consider the Cross for what it is: the vindication of Your character. That You are holy and Your Law is holy! That because You love us so much You did not spare Your Son, but sent Him to die for us! That you hate sin, and the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). I confess today that I am a sinner, I need Jesus! Help me to study the life and the example that Jesus has set before me. Help me to hate sin and love righteousness.

May the message of the cross teach me to love You more; to have the mind of Christ – the same attitude and purpose and humble spirit was in Christ Jesus. Help me to proclaim this message far and wide, and invite people to draw near the Cross of Jesus.

Come LORD Jesus in my life and guide my thoughts, words, deeds. Cleanse me and prepare me for Your Kingdom, Amen.