Bonnie’s Prayer Affair Prayers

CONFESSION

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COMMANDED TO BE BLAMELESS, NOT FAULTLESS

Screen Shot 2016-01-27 at 11.43.24 AM“God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect” (Ps 18:32 NLT).

FATHER, I am only perfect because You have chosen to fill me with Your own love and image (ref#15, [Ps 37:37]).   I will never be faultless, but You do not demand that I be faultless.

What You command is that I live a blameless life (Ps 37:18). You ask me only to live up to my highest understanding of Your will revealed in Your Word. Then You will look with favor on me, calling me blameless, if I walk in Your way (Ps 101:6).

A blameless man describes “an upright man; a man of integrity. It does not necessarily imply that he is absolutely holy, or free from all sin, but that he is upright, consistent, honest:…” (ref#16, [Ps 101:6]).

FATHER, I lose my blamelessness by sinning presumptuously. These are sins that issue from my pride and self-confidence that leads me to rely on my own strength (ref#16, [Ps 19:13]). FATHER, I do not want to fall into a habit of sinning presumptuously for by such sins I will soon be hardened through their deceitfulness (ref#15, [Ps 19:13]).

GUIDING FATHER, keep me back from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me, and then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgressions (Ps 19:13).

ADORATION

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SCRIPTURE – GOD’S SELF-DISCLOSURE

Screen Shot 2016-01-27 at 11.29.37 AMFATHER, my worship of You rests on You revealing Yourself to me. I would not know the truth about You or be able to relate to You in a personal way, had You not made Yourself known to me. The themes running throughout the Bible are about You, Your attributes, and godliness. It is “the record, interpretation, and expression of Your self-disclosure” The Reformation Study Bible (ref#56, p141, “The Word of God: Scripture as Revelation”).

“Here I see thy greatness and thy grace, thy pity and thy rectitude, thy mercy and thy truth, thy being and men’s hearts; Through it thou hast magnified thy name, and favored mankind with the gospel” The Valley of Vision (ref#76, p192).

This Word of Yours is as true as Your own existence. You and Your Word do not change; everything You have spoken has and will happen (ref#34, July 27th, AM). “I do not need signs and wonders to believe, For thy Word is sure truth” The Valley of Vision (ref#76, p164).

The availability of the Bible makes ignorance no excuse for my actions. Draw me toward Your Holy Scriptures where I may find reason to adore You and live in honor to You, for recalling Your loving activities leads me into worship.

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.]

A SPIRITUAL DANCE

 Screen Shot 2016-01-26 at 2.39.44 PM…FATHER, You invite me to knock and urge me to keep on knocking and if I keep on reverently knocking You will open to me (Matt 7:7). I am knocking for ____ for (he/she) is presently ill; I offer up this sacrifice of prayer for (him/her).

I thank You that You include in Your Bible stories that reveal the interaction You desire from ____. You have a man-shaped blank in Your heart (ref#100, p25) where only (he/she) will fit. Your Scriptures reveal Your desire for relationship.

Matthew, in his gospel, tells the story of a Canaanite woman who entreats JESUS relentlessly because she wants help for her daughter who is possessed by a demon (Matt 15:22). JESUS listens to her but does nothing even when His disciples beg Him to send her away.

FATHER, instead of healing immediately, JESUS delays by giving this woman reason why He is not obligated to heal her daughter, He says, …”I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt 15:24 ESV).  However, this does not deter the woman. She overlooks His words and repeats her request with more boldness because she now knows He is paying attention to her.

His response is yet another delay: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (Matt 15:26 ESV).  She ignores His discouraging words and continues pleading, adding logic to her request, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” (Matt 15:27 ESV).

Because JESUS waited to heal, it brought out the creative, feisty spirit of the woman as well as the level of desire for her request to be answered (ref.#62, p189-190). This spiritual dance between JESUS and the woman deepened their relationship.

And relationship is the ultimate objective. JESUS, talking of eternal life in Matthew seven, declares to people He does not know, “Depart from me” (Matt 7:23).

FATHER, I again make my request to You for ____’s healing. Use this prayer to answer my request while, at the same time, deepening my own relationship with You. And lead ____ into an interaction with You, too. Healing and praying for healing has no value if fellowship is not obtained or strengthened.

THANKSGIVING

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YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LOVE ME

Screen Shot 2016-01-26 at 2.21.41 PM…FATHER, I desire to spend time collecting my thoughts on Your everlasting tenderness and compassion. Please help me focus.

Even though in Yourself You are all-sufficient, yet from eternity You laid in Your bosom a design for my happiness. You love me because You “will” to love me—freely, without any obligation. Because of Your great love, You have seated me with CHRIST in order to show Your immeasurable riches and kindness toward me (Eph 2:7).

How is it You love me when You don’t have to? When I look at Your heavens and the work of Your fingers, who am I that You care for me (Ps 8:3-4)? I do not know why You pass by millions of people who do not differ from my nature (Eph 2:3) and choose me to love (Isa 43:4).

You promise to forever dwell with me for You have desired it (Ps 132:14). I am Your resting place forever. You cannot leave me for You are captivated by my beauty. You are in love with all my charms—the charms that You continually provide for me in CHRIST (Gal 5:22-23). You love me so You literally bind Yourself to me. Because of what You give me, my head flows with locks of purple and You are bound in my tresses (ref#35, p126 [Song 7:5-6]).

Mine is the joy to meditate on Your everlasting tenderness and compassion. As I recognize Your charms in me my gratitude to You increases.

CONFESSION

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WHEN THE LORD WILL NOT HEAR

Screen Shot 2016-01-26 at 2.11.22 PM“For any one…who separates himself from me, taking his idols into his heart…I will set my face against that man; I will make him a sign and a byword…and you shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezek 14:7-8 ESV).

“…I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them’” (Ezek 8:18 ESV).

FATHER, these hard words You have recorded are a sobering punctuation of how important it is to daily evaluate myself. My ruin will be estrangement from You by deciding to move my dependence from You to someone else (ref#18, [Ezek 14:1-11]). (An idol is some creature, mainly myself, who I allow to set up rule in my heart that replaces You).

“…the only life that pleases God…is His life—never our life, no matter how hard we try. But inasmuch as our self-centered life is the exact opposite of His, we can never be filled with His life unless we are prepared for God to bring our life constantly to death” (ref#97, p25).

The sin of living by my born-with nature is loathsome to GOD. I am in the way of GOD’s wrath when I attempt to “satisfy a vain curiosity, to stop the mouth of a clamorous conscience, or to get or save a reputation among men, but without any desire to be acquainted with God or any design to be ruled by him” (ref#18, [Ezek 14:1-11]).

“…human nature was created by God, not by the devil; it is impaired, and enfeebled, but it is not sinful. The first creation retains the remnants of God’s handiwork; re-creation is the building of a spiritual habitation, ‘an habitation of God,’ and all our effort is to be spent in disciplining the natural life in obedience to the new creation wrought in us through the Spirit….Any attempt to build on the natural virtues will ultimately outrange the grace of God…” (ref#157, June 5th).

ADORATION

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DESIRING TO COMMUNE WITH THE BEAUTY-MAKER

Screen Shot 2016-01-26 at 1.59.48 PM“GOD OF ALL SOVEREIGNTY,

Thy greatness is unsearchable,

Thy name most excellent,

Thy glory above the heavens;…” (ref#76, p214).

ALL-PROVIDING FATHER, abundant and extravagant in giving, joy comes to my heart when I experience some aspect of Your creation I find attractive (ref#130, p102). But, there is a greater joy:

“We do not want merely to see beauty…We want…to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it” C.S.Lewis (ref#130, p119).

“O my God, if Thy creations are so full of beauty, delight and joy, how infinitely more full of beauty, delight and joy art Thou Thyself, Creator of all” Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (ref#130, p102).

Day by day, FATHER, capture me and turn me lose in the forest of words that describe You so all my senses can dance in Your greatness. Guide my desire toward becoming “bold and glad” in Your superior glory (ref#124, p80).

SUPPLICATION

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SORROW – GRIEF DEFINED

[“Blessed are those who mourn…” (Matt 5:4 NASB). We know people who are grieving; let’s pray for them. Fill the name in the blanks in this prayer.]

Screen Shot 2016-01-13 at 12.10.48 PM“…they who bore the yoke and drank the cup

in fadeless glory shall the Lord raise up.

God’s word is ever good; His will is best: –

The yoke, the heart all broken–and then rest” Claudius L. Chilton (ref#64, p47).

FATHER, may ____ in (his/her) helpless state put (his/her) trust in You. You see (his/her) grief (Ps 10:14). As a victim, push (him/her) to commit (himself/herself) to You.

“Grief is a God given emotion that processes sorrow related to a loss” Boyd Bailey (ref#129). I pray against ____ becoming stuck in sorrow. Empower (him/her) to seine out benefit from (his/her) sorrow.

Call ____ to embrace (his/her) sorrow and not listen to others who advice (him/her) to move on. Grieving is a natural time to slow down and meditate on what really matters. “Sorrow seeks out a Savior” (ref#129).

FATHER, turn ____’s mourning into more trust in CHRIST. Only CHRIST is able to restore joy and hope. “What anguish empties, faith fills….Grief needs God” (ref#129). Anguish empties a heart, but faith fills it with hope.

THANKSGIVING

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MY DEFAULT

Screen Shot 2016-01-14 at 2.45.48 PM…FATHER, I can do nothing worthwhile—that, You have to do. But I can always praise and worship You. In fact, You have formed me to express honor to You (Isa 43:21). Whether I’m overwhelmed with difficult circumstances or come face to face with Your great acts, when I think of You, my heart defaults to praising and worshiping You.

You grant to me my heart’s desire and fulfill all my plans (Ps 20:4). Therefore, I will set up my banner by Your name, for You fulfill all my petitions (Ps 20:5).

O soul, be not downcast, for with a little reflection I can say, “You, GOD, are my refuge and my fortress. I abide under Your shadow—in the secret place of You, the Most High” (Ps 91:1,2).

I will declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night (Ps 92:2). For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the work of Your hands (Ps 92:4).

FATHER, I ask You allow me to bear fruit continually—even to old age; refresh me and make me flourish so I may declare Your uprightness (Ps 92:14,15). I have set my love on You (Ps 91:14); honor me with a life able to see Your salvation (Ps 91:16). Because Your work makes me glad, (Ps 92:4) I will sing praises to Your name, O MOST HIGH (Ps 92:1).

CONFESSION

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REASONS FOR DISOBEDIENCE – A SPIRIT CHECK

Screen Shot 2016-01-14 at 2.30.03 PM…FATHER, out of my sin nature that wants only to act like JESUS comes pernicious reasonings and evil intentions (Matt 15:19). FATHER, point out my resistance toward You through the following questions:

  • Am I pleased or troubled about situations?       Does my countenance depend on my comfort in the situation or do I forget about assessing my feelings and simply obey CHRIST (ref#76, p89)?
  • Do I provide for myself instead of letting CHRIST supply my needs? Do I control, rule, serve and love myself and not turn to CHRIST for strength (ref#76, p91)?
  • Do I judge myself? Do I settle in despondency dwelling on my faults or believe I am doing well and become puffed up (ref#76, p85)?
  • Am I “an evangelical hypocrite who sins more safely because grace abounds, who tells his lusts that Christ’s blood cleanseth them, who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell, for he is saved, who loves evangelical preaching, churches, Christians, but lives unholily” (ref#76, p72)?

O FATHER, my “every sense, member, faculty, affection is a snare to me” “The Valley of Vision” (ref#76, p74). Sin is my downfall (Ezek 18:30) and “my greatest snare is myself” (ref#76, p74).

Thank You for revealing the rebellion lurking in my members. Thank You for cleansing me from these hidden faults as I admit to them. I don’t want sin to control me (Ps 19:12,13). Through this confession turn my face toward You once again so that I may express extravagant love to You.

ADORATION

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FEAR OF THE LORD

Screen Shot 2016-01-14 at 2.16.30 PM…FATHER, Your Son delighted in the fear of You (Isa 11:3) and Isaiah the prophet predicted it will be Zion’s treasure (Isa 33:6). It is my delight as well. This day give me the ability to recognize some aspect of You that will produce fear.

Understanding the fear of You is to receive Your words and treasure Your commands seeking them intently (Prov 2:1,4,5). You say, the fear of You is the beginning of wisdom—it is insight and understanding (Prov 9:10).

There are two kinds of fear—paralyzing fear and energizing fear. Paralyzing fear comes to people who have no relationship with You when they recognize Your authority over them.

Your presence produces energizing fear though, for a Christian. Fear becomes an excitement waiting for what You will do next.

FATHER, I ask that energizing fear pull me out of my obsession with myself and into Your world of Your surprises (ref#58, p17). With such fear I will easily understand I’m not the center of my existence; (ref#58, p28) nor want to be.

Without some comprehension of You and Your awesome activities, FATHER, everything I do is a self-help project. When You and I are not close I become comfortable with myself and go about my daily business of setting goals and evaluating myself. But energizing fear makes me cast aside my predetermined plans and make an all-out effort to stay close to You (ref#58, p30).

No wonder CHRIST’s delight was the “fear of the LORD” (Isa 11:3). As Son of Man, He needed You, FATHER, minute by minute; His energized fear kept Him receiving miracle after miracle that filled Him with joy as well as moved Him through His earthly life accomplishing all Your will. Energizing fear, obedience, and joy come bundled together.

May I be like the first century church: …in possession of unbroken tranquility, being constantly built up and proceeding on its way in the fear of the Lord… Kenneth S. Wuest (ref#37, p295, [Acts 9:31]).