3:9 (2 Peter) “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
Lord God, Your heart is for all to come to repentance, not just some. You have been so patient with mankind. And we remember that after the flood, you promised that the earth would not be destroyed completely again by water. And you set a rainbow in the clouds to seal your promise. And you also promised that there will come a Lamb who would take away the sins of the world, of all the people of the world. And we see the Passover Lamb fulfilled in the person of Jesus 1500 years later. And when Jesus died on the Cross and rose from the dead three days later, He appeared to His disciples and to 500 people when he walked amongst them in a resurrected Body. And He promised that the Holy Spirit was going to come and the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples 50 days later. And before He died, Jesus promised that He was coming again to take His followers to their eternal home that He was preparing. Lord Jesus, none of Your promises have failed. We are waiting for the fulfillment of Your coming. Open the eyes of the hearts of the people to believe and to be saved. We especially lift up the people of Japan. You have been especially patient. As the people come to this season of remembrance, we pray You take the pause, take the moments of silence, and replace their grief with hope in Christ Jesus. Jesus alone can ease the loneliness and heal the wounds. Come in, Lord, in Your patience, give grace for the people of the world to turn their hearts back to You. You made us all for Your expression and satisfaction. We come.
3:8 (Philippians) “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,”
Philippians 3:8
Lord God, when we see You as You are, when we realize that You are the Creator of All, and all things came into being by You, and You uphold all things by the Word of Your power, everything else we have valued so far become so insignificant. You are inviting us to Life eternal in You and with You. We have the opportunity to receive the Son’s life by believing Christ Jesus is who He says He is. Nothing else matters. So, we know that Your enemy has done everything to cheat man out of His greatest blessing. He tried in the garden of Eden and he continues to do so in every corner of this world. We ask, Lord God, that the people of Japan see You as You are. Remove the hindrances and the stumbling blocks to the blessedness of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. We agree with Paul’s declaration. Nothing else in this world can compare to You. And for the remainder of our lives, our one desire is to gain more of You. In the precious name of Jesus we pray.
3:7 (Proverbs) “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”
Proverbs 3:7
Dear Lord God, You alone are wise. We can evaluate and assess the situation in Japan and in these areas where the gospel seems to be limited in some way, but You know, for you see through to our hearts, and You alone can soften and harden hearts. And all man’s efforts at moral behaviors are vain because we cannot change our own hearts from wicked thoughts and evil motives. So we turn our hearts to You and ask for You to breakthrough the hardened soils of our hearts. Breakthrough in the hearts of those who hear the gospel. And breakthrough the self life in the hearts of the workers who share the gospel. Lord God, healthy fear and reverence of You is the beginning of wisdom. So free us all from following our own devised ways and the hidden evil the enemy disguises to our hurt. Turn us from any wicked way and lead us onto Your everlasting way, in Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray.
3:6 (Ephesians) “to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,”
Ephesians 3:6
Lord God, we see how much Israel was in Your heart for so long. Even today, so much of the affairs of this globe revolves around Israel. Abraham believed You and that You counted as righteousness. You made a promise to him that in him and his descendant, all the nations will be blessed. And our Christ Jesus is the fulfillment of this. This new and living way to God included all of us non-Israelites, includes Japan.
We are fellow heirs! What a rich inheritance in Christ. No one is prevented from sharing in Christ except by unbelief. So Lord God, how about our fellow heirs in Japan? Do far more abundantly beyond what we can ask or think because of Your great love for all mankind. Open the hearts of the Japanese people to partake of the promise of Jesus Christ as they receive the gospel. In Jesus’ glorious name.
3-5 (2 Thess) “May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:5
Lord God, we pray for the Church that is in Japan. Our brothers and sisters there who gather together despite family pressures and the opposition of Your enemy. You have made us one. We are one with them and they are one with us because Jesus has made us One. We pray for the workers from abroad whom You have stirred in Spirit to devote themselves to the gospel. We pray for the local expression of Your Body where You have gathered Your people. We ask that if they are weary, that You would direct their hearts into Your love, to meet their need and the need of the yet-to-be saved in their midst. You, Lord God, are the steadfastness that we are not. Where there is disappointment or frustration, You be the steadfastness. We ask for grace to be found faithful. In these last days, help us to serve Your interests and whether we have been newly saved or an old-timer, find us about the Father’s business. Refresh and renew Your Church in Japan. May the lost sheep You are restoring find healing and rest for their souls. May they discover the truth of who they are in Christ as a member of the Body of Christ to express the glory of God. In Jesus’ glorious name.
3:4 (Titus) But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
Lord Jesus, You are the kindness of God, You are the love of God personified. Your mercy endures forever.
Thank You, Lord God, for not forsaking fallen mankind. We were deceived and in pride chose not to believe in You and listened to the lies of Your enemy. The truth is that You desire much more for us than we can imagine. You love us, You have no intention of holding out on us. Father God, You did not withhold Your Beloved Son from us, how will You not with Him freely give us all things. And we have been given everything pertaining to life and godliness! So we believe that You earnestly desire to show mercy to the people of Japan. To the people of all the nations. As You send Your people to them, cause the gospel they hear to be met with faith that You have given. Give them grace to receive the Spirit of the Son into their hearts. So they, too, can be born-again to walk in newness of life! And You restore Your people back to Your loving arms. Jesus is coming soon! We want to be those that long for His appearing. Give grace that we all, from every nation (including Japan), tribe, and language would be in that number.
3:3 (John) Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
God of all mercies, will You allow so many to remain in the kingdom of darkness never seeing the kingdom of God? Look upon Japan and have compassion on the people You have created. Though they take pride in their uprightness, You, Lord God, look upon our hearts. You judge not merely our actions, but our intentions. So then, if You see through to our thoughts, our hearts, how wicked we are before You, no one is righteous before You. So free us from any concepts that this outwardly upright and law-abiding nation doesn’t need salvation. No one can stand before You, the Righteous Judge of all unless we have the life of our Lord Jesus. Jesus’s life in us makes us stand. We ask, Dear Lord, that You give the gift of faith and repentance to the people in Japan. You did this for Nineveh, You can do this in Japan today. Soften hearts so that the gospel of Jesus Christ would be received. Open the eyes of their hearts. Transfer the people of Japan out of darkness and into the Kingdom of Your Beloved Son.
We ask in faith. Save Japan. In Jesus’ saving name.
3:2 (Psalm) “many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah.” Psalm 3:2
It’s often said that Japan is the “graveyard for missionaries.” Why is that? Because the “success” rate is so low and the progress at an apparent snail’s pace. I have seen missionaries come and go over the years. Some of them even walk away from the faith because of it. “Japan doesn’t need God, they have it all together,” is often said.
But what Japan needs is more prayer and more people not to preach at them but to walk along side them in life. The reality is that so many Japanese people are extremely lonely. They are great at putting on a happy face but the heart inside is imploding.
What gets Japanese people to want Jesus is when they walk alongside Christians going through similar struggles as they do but don’t end up slipping into depression like they do. Instead. they actually seem to thrive through the experience. This makes the Japanese curious. “What do Christians have that I don’t” becomes the thought.
We reach them by doing life with them and showing them we are all more similar than different.
The enemy whispers to us that it is impossible to reach the Japanese. And he whispers to the Japanese that they are different and they don’t need salvation. But oh Lord, they do! Everyone needs salvation. Not just for themselves, families get restored, friendships heal, hope appears, and God’s purpose is fulfilled. And we find that there is more to life than just work.
So we pray not just for more laborers, but more Japanese to be saved so as to live out the Christ life in their neighborhoods and among their colleagues. This is how people got saved in the first century. The gospel spread through family, friendship, and community. Our Lord Jesus, the bright morning star will soon appear and dispel all the darkness of the night. Until then,
Lord God, we pray that You will light up the hearts of the people of Japan. Dispel the darkness and isolation. You set the solitary into families. Bring them into Your family. They are also included among the innumerable stars in heaven that You pointed out to Abraham. Give them faith in Jesus to spark Life in their spirit. You are the light of the world. Against the backdrop of the world’s darkness, please bring about a chain explosion of life transformed for Your glory. Because You save us out of every tribe, every nation, every people, and every language. Nothing is impossible with You. All glory to the Lamb who took away the sin of the world!
3:1 (2 Timothy) “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.”
Difficult times have come, just as the Bible tells us. Wars and rumors of war are our daily reality in 2026. Every man for himself. Discontentment and hopelessness is rampant all around the world. In Japan, there are many who have either shut-in themselves from society to live in isolation or they find a way to be erased from society so they can “disappear” from the unbearable rat race.
If this is true across the globe, why focus on Japan at this time? Well, whenever March rolls around, I cannot help recalling 3-11-11. When the tsunami happened and the images were shown on the news, I was in disbelief. As the water swirled, God stirred in my heart concern and love for this nation. Surely, God will use this devastation for the sake of the greater good for Japan. Through this suffering, God can cause the people to know the love of God in Christ Jesus. Surely this is God’s hand of mercy. And I was earnestly joining others to pray for this land of the rising sun. But I was not persistent.
Forgive me for not persisting, Lord God. But You have not forgotten the people of Japan. We rejoin You in Your faithful intercessions for the people whom You created in Your image and likeness and for whom the Lord Jesus was crucified. In these difficult days, use Your sent out ones scattered throughout Japan, Your Church in Japan, to make known the hope-giving, death-conquering life of Jesus.
I ran a 5K the other day. It was for a good cause. Signed up thinking that it would be no big deal if I didn’t go through with it. I thought about asking someone else to run it together, but I didn’t want to set up something only to bail later if things came up disrupting plans.
People who know me are worried and asking if I trained for this. Well, I have been walking/jogging in our cul-de-sac where most of the neighbors keep tabs on each other in a good way, so before it’s totally dark after dinner, I’ve been “training.” I’m in mediocre shape and knowing that I could just walk the 5K took the pressure off. And at the starting line, I placed myself in the middle of the pack between the runners and the walkers. The serious runners took the leading positions at the starting line. In this middle of the pack region were the costumed and the matching outfit groups. Once the race began, I started out with a brisk jog trailing all the runners. The faster joggers passed us and in time, I slowed down to a brisk walk to catch my breath. And it was at this point that I noticed a petite, silver-haired woman in her late 60’s. She impressed me because she kept jogging even though it was at a slow pace. Note to self, at least keep up with her.
And so I did my thing which was to alternate between walking and running, slowing when I needed to catch my breath and speeding up to get through the shadeless portions. As such, I would pass my silver-haired pacer on my “runs,” and she would pass me as I slowed down. Back and forth we continued. And at the last 300 yards or so I caught a second wind and thought of challenging myself a bit and make a dash to the finish. Because we were getting close, people on the sidelines formed a cheering section urging us onward to the finish line. It was a good feeling being cheered. As I looked around, I couldn’t spot my “pacer.” Apparently, she wearied and fell behind. I was tempted to just run ahead as we had never met and I didn’t even know her name, but I realized she had served as my motivator the entire way and it would be much better if we finished together. I slowed my pace and finally saw her coming up. The finish line was now in view, I turned and said to her, “I have been following you the entire way,” and shockingly she turned to me and said to me, “I had been following you!” I often forget that I am no longer a youngster either and likewise stick out like a sore thumb in settings where youth is the norm.
And so in life, sometimes we are the motivators for others and other times we need to see somebody else running the race, keeping pace, never giving up, to encourage and motivate us to go on. Isn’t this the case for our common journey as believers in Christ. Others knowingly or unknowingly have served as our examples by their consistency and persistence. We, too, can faithfully run, even when we get weary, and stretch towards the finish knowing that there is a prize even greater than a medal waiting for us. And beyond the other racers, we are surrounded by a cheering throng urging us onward, telling us the finish line is in sight. Ultimately, we realize that it is not coincidental that we find ourselves running the race together in this same place and at this same time for mutual encouragement.
Do you feel that we are about to enter the final turn? Maybe you caught your second wind or maybe you feel that you have no strength left. Either way, is that the finish line in view? The Bible reminds us that when certain global events appear, we are very close to the finish line. Let’s do this together. The prize is Christ. The cups of cool water at the pit stops, that’s also Christ. The shade along the way, that’s also Christ. Your cushiony shoes, Christ. Your sweat-wicking shirt, Christ. There is nothing He left to our own devices. In a way, we just need to show up as a response to His call and say, “Lord, I am here. Even my willingness to show up You had something to do with that. I woke up today and am willing to turn things over to You. Help me live this day with You in view. Thank You for including me in this race.”
My finish time? 48:11. If I sprinted there at the end, I think I could have knocked off 15 seconds. But it didn’t seem right to run off without my “pacer.” It’s not a great finish time, but I’m thankful to finish and meet my personal goal of staying under an hour. I’m satisfied. The experience was rewarding in itself. Lots to think over and make parallels. I started this “race” decades ago running with many mentors and companions, men and women who live by faith in Christ and I have been helped by their example and assistance alone the way. When the Lord Jesus appears, this race of faith will have ended, for our faith will be changed to sight. Many have gone before us and ran faithfully. They have joined the cheering section urging us on for the finish line is in view. It’s not too late to tighten the loose shoelaces and pick up the pace. Let’s grab a cup of cold water at this last pit stop. Others are waiting for us. We can finish together. The Apostle Paul said at the end of his life that he had fought the good fight, he finished the course, and he kept the faith. Do we also love and long for the Lord’s appearing like Paul? Jesus is coming soon. Just as the Father ran to embrace us when Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled to the Father, we can run to meet Jesus as He promised to return for us. For love. Let’s go!
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.Hebrews 12:1-3
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