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"As water reflects the face so one’s life reflects the heart."
Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)
"Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight. . ."
2 Timothy 2:7 (NIV)
Evening reflections are beautiful—stand by the still water and see God’s creation in all its beauty. But it doesn’t last long. As darkness takes over, that majestic reflection is gone.
January, a time to reflect on the year just gone by with its spectacular highs and difficult lows. Now they are just fleeting moments—memories. It’s like night has come, and last year is now part of the past.
In the world of Bible translation, let’s say thank you, Lord Jesus, for all You have accomplished in the past year—indeed He has done so much! Through the Bible translation events held last year, 349 language groups launched New Testament translations. In total since introducing our innovative translation strategy, 1,086 Bible translation projects have started!
January also begins a year yet unknown—and with God’s leadership we offer a vision of what the year will hold in Bible translation. We have requests to launch Bible translation in 600 more languages in the coming year! And just think about all of the Bible translations that may come to completion this year!
Let us commit ourselves in this first month of the new year to pray. Commit together to be a team that prays for the language communities around the world who are now able to read and listen to Jesus—even listen to Him pray for them!
Just picture it—now thousands of churches, millions of people hearing Jesus pray. As you read these words, pray with me for those in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and the Middle East, who will soon hear these words in their own languages:
My prayer is not for them [His disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.
John 17:20-26 (NIV)
My dear prayer partners, let’s now pray for all those yet without one verse of Scripture, over 2,000 language communities who still need to hear God’s words of love and salvation in their heart languages. MAST Bible translation workshops are already taking place around the world, so let’s pray together:
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Pray that God will lead the local churches to send members of their community forward who will best serve their community in doing the work of Bible translation.
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Pray for the logistics required to bring translators, facilitators, and leaders together in a safe place, where a MAST Bible translation workshop will be held.
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Pray that all the materials, especially the computer tablets with translation software pre-loaded, along with the IT personnel who will train in their use, will arrive on location without impediment.
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Please pray for a hedge of protection around every event, every person, and every piece of equipment, as well as protection for the hearts and minds to be able to accomplish exactly what the Lord God has planned.
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Please pray for good health, good communication skills, stamina, and good rest for everyone taking part in a Bible translation workshop.
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Pray that the translated Scriptures—taken back to the home churches for reading and additional accuracy checking—draw men, women, and children to salvation and transformation.
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Pray that Wycliffe Associates will raise the funds required to provide logistics, tools, and training for all the language communities prepared by God to do Bible translation for their own people.
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Pray for Wycliffe Associates leaders, donors, fellow prayer partners, staff, and volunteers, each doing their part, that together with God we will accomplish the vision of a Bible in every language by 2025!
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