“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
Today’s Thought
Every great work of God begins long before the first suitcase is packed, the first plane takes off, or the first student steps off the bus at camp. It begins in the quiet places where God prepares the hearts of His people.
In just a short time, two teams from Friends Baptist Church will be sent out. One team will travel to Costa Rica to serve alongside fellow believers, share the Gospel, and demonstrate the love of Christ. Another team of students and leaders will head to camp, praying that God will use those few days to change lives for eternity.
Although their destinations are different, their mission is exactly the same—to glorify Jesus Christ.
It’s easy to focus on the details that still need attention. There are bags to pack, lessons to prepare, schedules to finalize, and countless last-minute items to check off the list. Those things matter, but there is something far more important than any itinerary or packing list.
God is far more interested in preparing our hearts than simply preparing our plans.
Throughout Scripture, God consistently worked in the hearts of His people before He worked through them. Moses spent years in the wilderness before leading Israel. Joshua learned to trust God before entering the Promised Land. The disciples spent years walking with Jesus before He sent them into the world. Even our Lord Jesus withdrew often to pray before major moments of ministry.
Preparation has always been part of God’s work.
Psalm 51 records David’s prayer after one of the darkest failures of his life. Rather than asking God to simply improve his circumstances, David asked for something much deeper: “Create in me a clean heart.”
The word create reminds us that only God can do this work. We cannot manufacture spiritual readiness through effort alone. We cannot produce humility, compassion, boldness, or holiness by simply trying harder. Those qualities are produced as we surrender ourselves to the Lord and allow His Spirit to shape us.
As our teams prepare to go, our prayer should be that God would remove every distraction that could hinder His work. Pray that pride would give way to humility. Pray that fear would be replaced with faith. Pray that selfishness would become servanthood. Pray that each team member would hunger for God’s Word and spend meaningful time with Him before they ever leave home.
But today’s prayer isn’t only for those who are traveling.
The same God who prepares missionaries also prepares those who pray for them.
Perhaps God wants to deepen your faith over these next ten days. Perhaps He wants to remind you that every believer has a role in fulfilling the Great Commission. While some are called to go, every Christian is called to pray, encourage, give, and support those who are serving.
Never underestimate what God can accomplish through a praying church.
Long before someone trusts Christ, God is already at work preparing their heart. Long before a student walks the aisle to surrender to God’s call, the Holy Spirit is already speaking. Long before a Gospel conversation begins, God has been arranging circumstances that only He could orchestrate.
That means your prayers today matter.
Somewhere in Costa Rica, there may be a child whose heart God is already preparing to hear the Gospel. Somewhere at camp, there may be a student carrying burdens no one else knows about. God knows every story before it unfolds, and He invites us to participate through prayer.
As Friends Baptist Church begins this journey together, let’s ask God to begin His work in us before He works through us. May every heart be surrendered. May every motive be pure. May every team member walk in dependence upon the Lord.
When our hearts belong completely to Him, He can accomplish far more than we could ever imagine.
Pray for Our Costa Rica Team
Today, ask God to…
- Prepare every heart before the trip begins.
- Give each team member a growing love for Christ and for the people they will serve.
- Remove distractions, worry, and discouragement.
- Build genuine unity among the entire team.
- Give leaders wisdom as they make final preparations.
- Prepare the hearts of every person they will meet in Costa Rica.
- Open opportunities for meaningful Gospel conversations.
- Keep the team’s focus on serving rather than simply accomplishing tasks.
Pray for Our Camp Team
Pray that God would…
- Begin working in the hearts of every student before camp even starts.
- Draw students who may be spiritually distant closer to Himself.
- Give camp leaders wisdom, patience, and joy.
- Help students arrive with expectant hearts.
- Remove distractions that would keep them from hearing God’s voice.
- Begin preparing hearts for salvation, spiritual renewal, and life-changing decisions.
- Unite students in Christian fellowship and encouragement.
- Help every leader model Christ in both words and actions.
Today’s Challenge
Choose two names today:
- One person serving on the Costa Rica Missions Team.
- One student or leader attending camp.
Write their names on a sticky note, an index card, or in the notes app on your phone.
Carry those names with you throughout the day. Every time you see them, stop—even for just thirty seconds—and pray specifically for those individuals. Ask God to prepare their hearts and use them for His glory.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for allowing Friends Baptist Church to be part of Your work both here and around the world. As our Costa Rica Missions Team and our students prepare to leave in the coming days, we ask that You would begin Your work in their hearts today.
Create within each person a clean heart and renew a right spirit. Fill them with humility, compassion, wisdom, and a deep love for You. Remove fear and replace it with faith. Remove pride and replace it with servanthood. Remove distraction and replace it with a desire to know You more.
Prepare the leaders as they guide these teams. Give them discernment, patience, and strength. Build unity among every person who will serve together.
Even now, begin preparing the hearts of those who will hear the Gospel in Costa Rica and the students who will gather at camp. Let Your Holy Spirit go before them, opening doors that no one else could open and softening hearts that only You can change.
As a church family, help us to be faithful in prayer. Remind us that while not everyone is called to go, every believer is called to participate in Your mission.
May everything that happens over the coming weeks point people to Jesus Christ.
For His glory alone we pray.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflect & Respond
What is one area of your own heart that you need God to prepare as you pray for others during these next ten days?
Take a moment to ask the Lord to do that work in you before ending today’s time of prayer.
Family Discussion
Before dinner or bedtime, ask:
“Why do you think God prepares people before He sends them to do something important?”
Then spend a few moments allowing each family member to pray for one person going to Costa Rica and one person attending camp.
Children’s Prayer Prompt
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the people from our church who are going to Costa Rica and to camp. Please help them love You more every day. Keep them safe, help them be kind, and use them to tell others about You. Help me remember to pray for them this week.
Amen.
Memory Verse
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10
Tomorrow’s Focus
Day 2: Strengthen Our Faith
“Faith sees what our eyes cannot, trusts what our minds cannot fully understand, and believes that God is already at work before we ever arrive.”