Teach Your People to B.L.E.S.S. Others into the Kingdom

God's plan to transform personal lives and whole cities calls for prayer--believers praying for their neighbors and then being available to them. Your people can make a difference by simply praying: Five blessings, for Five neighbors, for Five minutes a day, Five days a week, for Five weeks (commitment to start).

Here are some blessings to pray, based on the acronym "B.L.E.S.S."

B: Body (health, protection, strength)

• Pray that God will cover them "with his feathers," give them refuge under His wings, and be to them a "shield and rampart" (Ps. 91:4).
• Pray that they may seek the kingdom of God first and receive all other blessings they need as well (Mt. 6:33).
• Pray that for all their needs they may look to God, who is prepared to "give them their food at the proper time" (Ps. 145:15).

L: Labor (work, income, security)

• Pray that they may keep their lives "free from the love of money and be content with what [they] have" (Heb. 13:5).
• Pray for diligence in work. "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth" (Prov. 10:4).
• Pray that neighbors who work outside the home will meet Christians who show them the deep and passionate love of God.

E: Emotional (joy, peace, hope)

• Ask God to fill the empty spaces in unsaved neighbors' hearts with the knowledge that there is a God who loves them and wants them to love Him in return.
• Pray that they may be content because they have "learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" (Phil. 4:12).
• Pray that in times of trouble they will pray to God and discover the peace of God that passes all understanding in Jesus Christ (Phil. 4:7).

S: Social (love, marriage, family, friends)

• Pray that children will obey and honor their parents and that parents will train and instruct their children in the things of the Lord (Eph. 6:1-4).
• Pray that they may have good friends who will stick by them at all times and family members who will stand by them in adversity (Prov. 17:17).
• Pray that they will "bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances [they] may have against one another" (Col. 3:13).

S: Spiritual (salvation, faith, grace)

• Pray that they will "receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in [Christ]" (Acts 26:18).
• Pray that they will call on the name of the Lord and be saved (Acts 2:21).
• Pray that the kindness of God will lead them to repentance (Ro. 2:4).

In order to sustain prayer, believers often need reminders. Beginning a B.L.E.S.S. iniative at your church will help keep them targeting the lost. To order simple brochures that help people remember what to pray, go to prayershop.org and purchase the "Five Blessings" Brochure ($2.50 per pack of 10).

--This material is adapted from Developing a Prayer, Care, Share Lifestyle by Dr. Alvin Vandergriend. This book is available at www.prayershop.org.