January 2012 Prayer Calendar 

This year, we will seek to both educate and encourage others with the truths from the Word of God. We pray that as the Holy Spirit ignites these truths, we will be helped to live out our faith in real ways. Please drink in these nuggets while praying for God’s work at the Den and praising Him for His provision there too. Our focus point will be the Book of Daniel, a book full of political unrest, spiritual multiplicity, turning away from God, and struggles of military power. In many ways, it reflects our culture today. After each prayer request or praise, we’ll give you a truth to chew on . Hope it is insightful to you. We draw this directly form the pages of Scripture, so if you have more questions, God’s Word holds answers.

1. Praise God for the new year, and we want to pray for 5 new volunteers to join the Lion’s Den team as well.

Daniel= God is my judge; name changed to Belteshazzar= He protects his life

2. Praise God for the many gifts that were given to the Lion’s Den children and teens during this past Christmas.

Hananiah= Yahew is gracious; name was changed to Shadrach=command of Aku

3. Praise God for an opportunity for a break for our kids. Pray for their safety as they enjoy extra time at home (Lion’s Den closed today).

Mishael= who is like God; name was changed to Meshach= who is what Aku is?

4. Pray for contractors working basement reconstruction at this time.

Azariah=He whom God has helped; name was changed to Abednego= servant of Nebo

5. Praise God that the tile work in the LD basement is complete. We are now 100% up and running for Christ.

Nebuchadnezzar  - the king was also a great warrior

6. Praise God for our volunteer – George LaRoe. He was named as a Reminder Publication “Hero”. He has been a hero for God’s work for a very long time!

The Theme of the book of Daniel is really that God does rule in the affairs of mankind.

       7           Pray for Andy Kilpatrick, friend of the Lion’s Den, as he participates in an area prayer breakfast this morning.

Daniel was imprisoned when he was 80 years old for being a prayer warrior.

8 Pray for our volunteer Lynette (she is an MK- Missionary Kid) traveling to Italy to be with her family at this time.

Heavenly messengers traveled to assist Daniel in his ministry, but were detained in the process.

9 Pray for Alden Baptist Church; thanking God for local volunteers from this and other ministries that are supporting the work at the Lion’s Den.

Daniel would have been a lifer in Washington; he served through several chief administrations.

10 Pray for PG has he ministers in our sister ministry Belleville City Mission.

As a dreamer, Daniel was called upon to both have and interpret dreams.

11 Praise God for the sincere interest in the things of God by the children and teens at the Den.

Daniel made a point to give God the glory for his gifts.

12 Pray for Lion’s Den teens desiring to go to Snow Camp this winter. (Snow Camp offers a great opportunity for our kids to have fun while learning about Christ.)

King Nebuchadnezer was both powerful and skillful, but was clearly placed in and removed from power by God.

13 Pray for Larry White, a local photographer that provided pictures for our Lion’s Den teens.

In the story of the fiery furnace, the men of God did not have a promise of protection, but rather a commitment to integrity.

14 Praise God for the prayer warriors that have been using this prayer list and the direction from the Lord for over 11 years to strengthen the work and ministry of the Lion’s Den.

In the Old Testament, the concept of decrees from those in leadership was the norm.

15 Pray for AmeriCorp workers looking to celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday in our region.

King Nebuchadnezer wondered if anything could protect people from his hand.

16 Pray as we desire to see more Lion’s Den kids participating in local churches this year. This will take much effort on both the church, and the teenagers, and their families. May God give us strength for this endeavor.

King Nebuchadnezer was blessed with insanity for 7 years so he could later praise and worship God.

17 Pray for 3 new volunteers to join the Lion’s Den team from area colleges (college students make up a high percentage of regular Lion’s Den volunteers; we appreciate their efforts).

King Nebuchadnezer’s son, Belshazar (not to be confused with Belteshazar) followed ironically in his father’s bad steps by having a party and using the vessels from the house of God for bad purposes.

18 Pray for Springfield College students going back to school today. We are hopeful that some students will help us with our weight room in the near future.

“Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin” were the words written by the hand on the wall. The phrase “handwriting on the wall” comes from the Bible. 

19 Pray for parents that are incarcerated and have young people at the Lion’s Den. Specifically, pray that they’ll encourage their children and youth to godly activities.

“Mene” means “God has numbered your kingdom; you’re all done.”

20 Pray for new ministry starting up in the Indian Orchard/Ludlow area. They may become places that Lion’s Den teens grow.

“Tekel” means “the weights are out of balance and you’re in trouble”

21 Pray for Lion’s Den leaders and other area youth leaders attending the leadership training in Eastford, Connecticut, today.

“Upharsin” is derived from the word “peres” which means “your kingdom has been given to the Medes and the Persians.”

22 Praise God for our Asian believers populating Western Massachusetts. We are glad that several Asian college students have participated with the Lion’s Den in the past, and we’re hopeful for more in the future. (Many Chinese are celebrating the Chinese New Year today)

King Belshazar offered Daniel great riches to interpret the handwriting on the wall.

23 Pray as James is still looking for a car.

Daniel declined the riches and gave the interpretation anyway.

24 Pray for good weather. We are hopeful to provide hot air balloon rides to Lion’s Den kids in the near future.

King Belshazar forced Daniel to take some of the wealth.

25 Pray for Arnold Cox and for the work we collaborate on at the Lion’s Den involving youth that he is connected with.

That night, that very night, the interpretation of the dream came true and the kingdom was overturned within hours.

26 Pray for our webmaster, Jason Theriault, as he and his family prepare to leave the region to serve with Life Action.

The Book of Daniel also gives visions of the entirety of human history from a leadership perspective.

27 Pray for the Bible study happening at the Lion’s Den tonight, that the message will be radically life changing.

What God showed Daniel made Daniel sad and afraid.

28 Pray for college students attending an important leadership retreat this weekend. Some of those students may eventually serve at the Lion’s Den.

Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9 is worth reading.

29 Pray for integrity among the lives of teens in our region. Sometimes when you are without, the challenge to lower your standards is great (without a girlfriend or boyfriend, without money, without joy). Pray that God will strengthen our youth not to take shortcuts in life.

The fact that Daniel prayed disturbed his adversaries.

30 Pray for skilled laborers. We are thankful not only for our volunteers but also for those who God will send our way with unique skills and abilities. Working on the roof, doing construction, sound system and electrical capabilities, are always highly in need at the Den. We praise God for His provision in these areas.

Daniel was 80 years old when they threw him in the lion’s den.

31 Wait on the Lord. Would you take 5 minutes of silence before the Lord and ask Him how you should pray this last day of the month for the Lion’s Den?

I wonder if Daniel rested his head on the fur of the lions while he slept that night, or if he slept at all inside the lion’s den.