26
Mar '18
You are Love
26
Mar '18
Father, you are love.
You are the source of love, and we marvel at the depth of your love for us.
What grace. What mercy toward those who were unlovable and undeserving.
Lord, overwhelm us with the reality of our adoption. Cause us to marvel with inexpressible joy at the realization that we no longer have to account for an eternal burden of judgment… and not only this, but that you actually… love… us.
Lord, at the thought of questioning you, we cover our mouths like Job at the revelation that you spoke everything into existence. Who are we to question or doubt? There is no one who compares to you. You are the sovereign almighty God, and we exist and live by your decree. Forgive us for treating you as a peer – as some equal that we dare examine and doubt. Open our eyes to even a small glimpse of your glory that would grant us the faith of Job who said, “thou you slay me, I will hope in you.”
Open our eyes to love:
• A love that did not leave us in our filth
• A love that would send
• A love that would stoop
• A love that would receive abuse and humiliation in order to redeem those who did not love
• A love that would take out hearts of stone and give hearts that could love you… and love… like you.
We praise you for your love
We ask for your love
We pray that your love would fill us and spill over within this church, within the body of Christ, within our community, and around the world. Fill us so that others might see and marvel and know that you are love.
And now, because of your love, we give these gifts.
We give them for your glory, and our resulting joy
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
03
May '17
Sunday Prayer – Our Refuge and Strength
03
May '17
Father God-
We are surrounded with issues each moment and day of our lives. “Will we be able to pay the bills without going further in debt? Will our health challenge be resolved soon or ever? Will we or those we love make Godly decisions? Will international concerns be settled?” These life matters (and many others) cause us to really worry and fret. Yet… we need to stop and look to You. You are our refuge and strength. You are an ever-present help in trouble. Not our calculated accomplishments. Not our keen wisdom. Your word doesn’t say that You will help if we get into a strong refuge. It tells us You are that refuge. Because You are our Father, our God, You are right now our refuge.
Father, raise up our strength in You since You are with us, even the worst thing that happens to us—death—only makes You infinitely happier and makes You infinitely greater. We say this because Your Son writhed on a tree, making himself nothing until he breathed no more… Up from the grave he arose and You highly exalted Him and bestowed on him the name above every other name. For from Your Son and through Your Son and to Your Son are all things. To Him we are in as our refuge and to Him be glory forever. Amen.
04
Mar '17
How to Pray for the Sick and Disabled
04
Mar '17
-By RACHEL LUNDY
When we know someone who is suffering from an illness or disability, our response is often to pray for healing.
It is compassionate to desire relief for one who is suffering, and it is certainly appropriate to ask the Lord for healing.
Our God is loving and compassionate, and He is grieved by the suffering of His children (Psalm 86:15, John 11:32-35). He is also a powerful God who is able to heal (Mark 1:29-34).
However, healing is not always God’s plan for those who are sick and disabled.
Sometimes God chooses to heal, but sometimes instead He chooses to use a long-term illness or disability for the good of His people.
For this reason, it is good to pray for more than just physical healing.
Let’s look to Scripture for examples of ways to pray for those who are suffering from an illness or disability.
- Pray that God would comfort them (2 Corinthians 1:4).
- Pray that they would “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18, NIV).
- Pray that they would trust in the Lord and not lean on their own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
- Pray that they would grow in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
- Pray that they would suffer well. Pray that they would “commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (1 Peter 4:19, NIV).
- Pray that God would grant them endurance and encouragement (Romans 15:4-6).
- Pray that they would throw off sin and run with endurance. Pray that they would look to Jesus so that they do not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1-3).
- Pray that the Lord would provide for all of their needs “according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19, NIV).
- Pray that they would thirst for God and that they would place their hope in Him (Psalm 42:1-5).
- Pray that God would keep them in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).
- Pray that they would “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12, NIV).
- Pray that God would enable them to be content in whatever circumstances He places them in (Philippians 4:11-13).
- Pray that they would hold unswervingly to the hope they have professed (Hebrews 10:23).
- Pray that they would not lose heart, but that they would persevere and fix their eyes on what is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
It is a great privilege to bring our requests to the Lord and be a part of the work He is doing. God chooses to work through the prayers of His people. Therefore, let us lift up our brothers and sisters who are suffering from disabilities, praying not just for their physical bodies, but for their spiritual growth and strength as well.
In what other ways should we intercede for those who are suffering from an illness or disability? If you are suffering, in what ways do you appreciate people to praying for you?
Rachel Lundy is a wife and mother of two children. She lives with dysautonomia, a condition that leaves her mostly homebound. She writes at Cranberry Tea Time about life with a chronic illness and the hope and joy she has in Christ.
