Author: MaryBeth Hall

Fast Draw (aka Quick Draw) is a hobby enjoyed by a Vermont TGP team member. Fast Draw is a safe, enjoyable hobby / competition that involves speed in drawing a handgun and accuracy in hitting the target. Participants choose aliases such as Colorado Circuit Rider, Northwoods Nell, Johnny Lightning, Old Leatherneck Lynn, or Texas Pete.

Because the Bible compares itself to a weapon (a sword), the two elements of Fast Draw – speed and accuracy – are also important to Christians. Just as with a cowboy in the Old West (the paradigm for Fast Draw), a first century Roman soldier’s life could depend on his deft agility in wielding his weapon. In describing the armor of God, Paul admonished all believers to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Hebrews 5:12-14 describes that ideally the longer people have been Christians, they will “…by reason of use [of the Scriptures] have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Jesus illustrated this by His immediate response to temptation; quoting Scripture that hit the bull’s eye of truth. One of the Holy Spirit’s great gifts to God’s children is that He brings verses to our minds that we have previously read / memorized.

1. The US National Fast Draw Championship wil be held in Oroville, California, on October 3-5, 2025. Pray for someone preparing for that event to come to know Jesus, and learn to handle His weapon well.

2. Pray for believers in your family to make/maintain the habit of spending time in God’s Word, “rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

3. Some Fast Draw aliases aren’t the greatest: Dirty Harry, Hard Hearted Hannah, Snake Oil, or Evil E. The Christian’s real life enemy satan often tries to distort Scripture for his evil purposes. Pray for young men in churches today to exhibit the description of 1 John 2:14 – “…you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.”

2 Corinthians 2:14

Fishing is a hobby that offers several benefits: outdoor relaxation, time with family, and a source of food. One study tracked a record number of 57.7 million Americans ages six and older who went fishing in 2023.*

Fishing is another hobby found in Scripture. Mark 1:16-20 records the story of Jesus calling two sets of fishermen brothers to be His disciples. He gave them the intriguing call to “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Their response was immediate obedience. That call echoes through the centuries to all His disciples.

Another parallel between fishing and discipleship is the high percentage of participants who begin early in life. The following data from the study referenced above is very interesting: “These numbers…underscore the critical importance of introducing fishing at a young age…Eighty-seven percent of current fishing participants fished before the age of 12…”* Most people who fish have early memories of doing so as a child with an older family member. The same is true in the spiritual realm. After research, George Barna found that “the probability of accepting Christ is highest among kids under 14.”** This is not to minimize older age salvations, just to highlight the importance of beginning discipleship at an early age. Just as fishing doesn’t just happen without someone being intentional, so it is with discipleship.

1. Choose any country, and pray for a family who lives there and is planning to go fishing this weekend to grow in their relationships with God and each other.

2. Pray for Christian parents and grandparents to be intentional about discipling the children in their families.

3. Pray for the Master Fisherman to bless the efforts of His churches around the world to be fishers of men.

2 Corinthians 2:14

*https://www.tackletradeworld.com/record-numbers-people-go-fishing-usa

**Accepting Christ at a Young Age https://share.google/eXpr0Y90oqpGjLRYa

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

1. Special Request Update: After nine days in a Kenyan hospital with postpartum eclampsia, missionary Katlyn Amuku is going home, and will be closely monitored as she continues recovery.

2. Singing: Pray for a Christian in each of the fifty US states who is discouraged today to be deeply encouraged by the truth of a song about the Lord.

3. Your Choice: Please pray for a request you remember from one of the other locations featured this week:

Mitsuke, Japan

Barletta, Italy

Riga, Latvia

Port Louis, Mauritius

Thank you for praying!

Note: For those who receive the monthly prayer list for specific lost individuals, please send in updates or additions before August 20th. For anyone else who would like to receive this monthly list, simply reply to this email.

Singing is today’s featured hobby, enjoyed by a junior TGP team member.

From beginning to end, singing is an intrinsic part of God’s work on Earth. The Lord Himself says that when He created the world, the angels sang (Job 38:1-7). In praise of the Lamb Who brings redemption and restoration, believers in heaven sing a new song (Rev. 5:9-10).

Singing also fills in the middle space of Earth’s existence, the time we currently occupy. Music has been part of every culture. The capacity of both the words and melodies of songs to capture all the emotions and themes of life, stirring our souls in many ways, is truly a gift from our gracious Creator.

For the Christian, singing bolsters our faith; in the declaration of what is true about our God our focus is re-oriented on the anchor of our souls that is greater than anything else. Both in singing (or listening to / meditating on a song) in the solitude of one’s home, or joining other believers in corporate worship, every child of God should follow His many directives to praise Him in song. It blesses Him; it encourages us; it ministers to other believers.

Musical talent is not the basis for deciding whether to sing to God; love is. Let our hearts echo the words of Psalm 104:33, “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.”

1. Pray for a Christian in each of the fifty US states who is discouraged today to be deeply encouraged by the truth of a song about the Lord.

2. Pray for the families of Christian musicians to abide in Christ, and know the provision of their Father in all realms.

3. Pray that a lost person in each of the fifty US states who has heard the song “Jesus Loves Me” will think of the words today, considering what they really mean, and believe the gospel.

Isaiah 40:29-31