Month: June 2017

SUPPLICATION

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GENERAL SICKNESS

[The majority of our prayers concern physical health. We all know someone who is dealing with the pain of sickness. Here is an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE SICK

…FATHER, in Your sovereignty You watch over this world that will pass away. It is in a continuous state of decay and dying (1 Cor 2:6). And our bodies likewise are on the path of death. Like a flower of the grass, we will soon be no more (James 1:10).

This tent—our earthly home—will be destroyed but we have a building from You—eternal in the heavens (2 Cor 5:1). While in this body we groan, burdened in our mortality, but rejoicing that one day we will be swallowed up to life eternal (2 Cor 5:4).

In ____’s weakness You promise to spread Your might over (him/her) much like the Shekinah Glory in the Holy of Holies of the Tent of Meeting. LORD, dwell over (him/her) with strength and power when (he/she) is weak (ref#17, [2 Cor 12:9]).

If You do not eliminate ____’s illness, quickly keep (him/her) from murmuring about (his/her) frailty. Give (him/her) the desire to boast of You, FATHER, for Your power and strength are fulfilled and completed and show themselves most effective in (his/her) weakness (2 Cor 12:9).

Because of the contrast between ____’s weakness and Your strength, people can see that You hold the power of eternity—wellness—everything lacking in (him/her) as an earth-dweller. And FATHER I ask, do spread Your power over (him/her) in (his/her) decreased-ness so others can see clearly Your increased-ness. If others can see a clearer vision of You, that alone should cause ____ contentment in (his/her) illness (2 Cor 12:10).

Continue to remind (him/her) that You have created this world to gather Your children to You and mature them. Remind (him/her) that the comfort of (his/her) body should be of no lasting concern. Give (him/her) help to shift (his/her) eyes from (himself/herself)—from (his/her) suffering, (his/her) affliction, (his/her) tribulation, (his/her) calamity, (his/her) distress, for none of these things can separate (him/her) from CHRIST’s love (Rom 8:35). In ____’s suffering allow (him/her) to eat, sleep, and drink CHRIST.

This tent we’re in is passing away; so be it. My last request is that You shift the thoughts of ____ onto CHRIST who has physically died but now is alive forevermore and holds the keys of Death (Rev 1:18).

THANKSGIVING

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Chord Progression:  (C  E7  Am  Cm)  (D7  Dm7  G7  C)

TIMELESS

FATHER, You are always the same

and Your years have no end (Ps 102:27).

You are in Yourself totally complete;

and consist of the entire whole (ref#110, p1413).

 

You are, You are the one mainstay—

yes, the chief support (ref#110, p815).

And You are, yes, You are timeless—

always valid and true, unending and eternal (ref#110, p1401).

 

You cannot be overcome

because You are invincible—(ref#110, p710-711).

because You are beyond this material world—

yes, beyond and superphysical (ref#110, p1344).

 

You are, You are unmeasurable.

You are immense and vast (ref#110, p1461).

You are from everlasting to everlasting

O, LORD, You are GOD (Hab 1:12).

 

CONFESSION

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WORKING OUT MY OWN SALVATION

…FATHER, I don’t want to go to hell. I want to be forgiven and avoid Your wrath and to go to heaven. Reconciliation with You—everybody wants that (if they’re honest with themselves) (ref#93, p28-29).

But, the important question is, “Do I want these things for my own security?” or “Do I want them because they bring me to the enjoyment of You” John Piper (ref#93, p29)?

FATHER, only You can change my nature so I’m able to concentrate on You and reject my attention to preserving myself. When You provide a new nature it sets me on the path of working out my own salvation—working out selfishness and working in ever-increasing happiness in You.

“as ‘a nail is driven out by another nail, habit is overcome by habit’” Erasmus (ref#130 p49).

“…become shares (partakers) of the divine nature….adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue…knowledge…self-control… steadfastness…godliness…brotherly affection…Christian love” (2 Pet 1:4-7 AMP).

“Wherefore, brethren, exert yourselves the more, and bend every effort to make for yourselves your divine call [into salvation] and your divine selection [for salvation] things that have been confirmed” Arthur S. Way (ref#37, p559, [2 Peter 1:10]).

ADORATION

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Chord Progression: (Am G E7 Am) (Dm G E7 Am)

I AM THE LORD, THERE IS NO OTHER

Before You there was no GOD formed;

there was no such thing as a GOD—(Isa 43:10)

nothing pre-exists but Yourself (ref#15, [Isa 43:10]).

Your dominion is entirely original (ref#16, [Isa 43:10]).

 

There shall not be any GOD after You,

there never will be (Isa 43:10).

You are the only true and eternal GOD— (ref#16, [Isa 43:10]).

the Alpha and Omega (Rev 1:8).

Surely, as You have thought,

so it shall come to pass,

and as You have purposed, LORD,

so it shall stand (Isa 14:24).

 

You fill the heavens and You fill the earth (ref#15, [Jer 23:23]).

You are a GOD that notices things—

things that are close at hand and things far away (Jer 23:23).

Your power is not limited but universal (ref#16, [Jer 23:23]).

Yahweh!—strong and mighty;

“Merciful Being”—full of tenderness,

“The gracious One”—naturally good,

You, the loving GOD (ref#15, [Ex 34:6]).

 

Let me hear of Your steadfast love;

Make me know the way I should go (Ps 143:8).

Deliver me from my enemies (Ps 143:9);

Let Your good Spirit lead me (Ps 143:10).

PRELUDE TO PRAYER

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Prayer Facts:

“We do not need to be concerned that persistent prayer will offend God or betray a lack of faith. Jesus commends persistent prayer because he works through prayer offered over time to improve our prayers, to further his kingdom, to change us—and to answer” Bryan Chapell (ref#66, p138).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You have sound knowledge and understanding and might and power (Prov 8:14), I will wait for You.

Because You are alert and active watching over Your Word to perform it (Jer 1:12), I will wait for You.

Because You are a GOD at hand and not a GOD afar off (Jer 23:23), I will wait for You.

Read Through the Bible in a Year: June 24th – 30th

June 24    Prov 30; Ps 38

June 25    Prov 31; Matt 22

June 26    Eccl 1-3; Matt 23

June 27    Eccl 4-6; Matt 24

June 28    Eccl 7-9; Ps 39

June 29    Eccl 10-12; Matt 25

June 30    Song 1-4; Matt 26

SUPPLICATION

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GENERAL TRIBULATION

[We all can think of a Christian sister or brother experiencing so much affliction they may not be able to pray for themselves. Here’s an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

CARRYING CHRIST’S CROSS

…FATHER, Your Son did not suffer so His church can be excluded from suffering (ref#34, April 5th AM). I pray ____ remember that and expect to suffer.

“He bears a cross, not that you may escape it, but that you may endure it. Christ exempts you from sin, but not from sorrow” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, April 5th AM).

As ____ is willing to share CHRIST’s glory, motivate (him/her) to also share in His suffering (Rom 8:17).

“…let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator…” (1 Pet 4:19 ESV).

FATHER, as ____ is hard-pressed, I pray (he/she) constantly commit (his/her) soul to Your safekeeping. “The great secret of all comfort in seasons of affliction is to take the affliction, as it comes, simply to Christ” (ref#61, Feb 5th). It is not (his/her) cross but CHRIST’ cross (he/she) carries (ref#34, April 5th AM).

Prod ____ to permit CHRIST to lay His cross on (him/her) so that (he/she) might bear it after Him (Luke 23:26). Some think Simon of Cyrene carried the end of the cross, the light part, while the transverse beam rested on JESUS’ shoulder Barnes’ Notes (ref#16, [Luke 23:26]).

This is a good word-picture of what a Christian life should look like. Empower ____ to think of (his/her) suffering in that way.

THANKSGIVING

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Chord Progression:  (C  Fsus  F  Fm/C)  (C  F  Gsus  C)

STEADFAST

There is no GOD like You

in heaven above or the earth beneath (1Kings 8:23).

In Your steadfast love You are immovable

and cannot be changed (ref#110, p675).

 

You are ample, well-supplied and rich

“…more than sufficient…”—having all abundance (ref#110, p6)

dependable, trustworthy and reliable (ref#110, p369).

You are loyal, faithful and true (ref#110, p802).

 

Thus, You do marvelous work

because You are the wonderworker (ref#110, p1536).

You keep covenant and show love

to Your servant’s who walk before You (1 Kings 8:23).

 

You are thorough, complete and omit nothing.

You’re out and out, absolute, and very exact,

Accurate and painstaking with regard to details (ref#110, p1393).

Your steadfast love endures all the day (Ps 52:1).

 

Repeat stanza three.

CONFESSION

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CHRISTLIKENESS IS NOT ME IMITATING BUT THE SPIRIT IMPLANTING

…FATHER, my previous understanding of the term “Christlikeness” has misled me. I thought I would become Christlike by doing more and more good deeds like CHRIST did. FATHER, it is my desire to walk by the SPIRIT, not imitate CHRIST by externally acting out my perception of His good works.

But, Christlikeness is not me imitating CHRIST. Instead, Christlikeness is the impartation of the holy qualities of CHRIST in me (ref#7, July 23rd). These “holy qualities” are Your qualities, FATHER, brought to me by the Person of the SPIRIT.

The HOLY SPIRIT transfigured the Son of Man, CHRIST, and He transfigures me. It is an internal change in me. Bit by bit—from one degree of glory to another—my life improves as You, FATHER, enter more and more into my life (2 Cor 3:18).

The length to which I’m willing to be molded into Your image is the length to which the SPIRIT will help me. As long as I keep calling out for His blessing and help, the SPIRIT has fully committed Himself to respond (ref#78, p38).

“Only when we are full of the Spirit do we feel the need for God everywhere we turn” Jim Cymbala (ref#78, p58).

ADORATION

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Chord Progression: (C A7 Dm Bdim) (C F C G)

YOU SET YOUR GLORY ABOVE THE HEAVENS (PSALM 8)

“O Lord our God,

Thy name is writ in glory

O’er countless worlds

that tell Creation’s story” Arthur S. Way (ref#38, p265, [Ps 8]).

 

To You, “Adonai…Director, Ruler

Judge, Supporter of men” (ref#15, [Ps 8:1]).

“…the majesty and glory of your name

fills all the earth and” (Ps 8:1 TLB) heav’n.

 

O LORD, brilliant LORD,

how excellent is Your name,

Your majestic name fills the earth!

Your greatness is Your fame (Ps 8:1)!

 

“O LORD, our heav’nly King,

Thy name is all divine;

Thy glories round the earth are spread,

And o’er the heav’ns they shine” Isaac Watts (ref#102, p13, [Ps 8]).

 

FATHER, You have displayed Your splendor;

In the heavens You establish Your faithfulness (Ps 8:1).

Your unfailing love will last forever;

In it I will always be blest.