prayers for Christians

THANKSGIVING

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DESIRING TO COMMUNE WITH THE BEAUTY-MAKER

Screen Shot 2015-11-07 at 12.23.04 PM…“GOD OF ALL SOVEREIGNTY,

Thy greatness is unsearchable,

Thy name most excellent,

Thy glory above the heavens;…” The Valley of Vision (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).

ADORATION

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“…the purpose of theology is doxology; we study in order to praise” The Reformation Study Bible (ref#56, p594, “The Greatness of God”).

THE DEPTH OF YOUR RICHES

Screen Shot 2015-11-07 at 11.55.16 AMThe heavens declare Your glory, GOD,

and the sky shows Your handiwork,

exhibiting it across the horizon—

displaying Your craftsmanship (Ps 19:1).

 

They speak of the glory of Your kingdom

and tell of Your power

to make known Your mighty deeds,

and Your glorious splendor (Ps 145:11-12).

 

O, the depth of Your riches,

wisdom, and knowledge, O GOD.

How unfathomable are Your judgments;

how undiscoverable are Your ways (Rom 11:33).

 

Your decisions are unsearchable;

Your methods are inscrutable;

Your paths are mysterious;

they are past finding out (Rom 11:33).

 

You choose me; I am blessed.

You cause me to approach You

that I may dwell in Your courts.

I shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house (Ps 65:4).

 

O LORD, You are my GOD;

I will exalt You; I will praise You’re name,

for You have done great things—

plans formed of old, faithful and sure (Isa 25:1)

SUPPLICATION

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REASONS FOR AFFLICTION – SO GOD MAY GLORIFY HMSELF BY DELIVERANCE

Screen Shot 2015-11-06 at 4.29.54 PM…“O LOVE BEYOND COMPARE, Thou art good when thou givest, when thou takest away, when the sun shines upon me, when night gathers over me” (ref#76, p111).

FATHER, as ____ loses hope and is paralyzed with fear, guide (him/her) to a place where (he/she) can remember the past where You greatly worked for (him/her). Overwhelm (him/her), grant (him/her) enough quietness within to recall what You have done that (he/she) might find strength to go on (Ps 143:4-6).

Remind (him/her) that You will either deliver (him/her) speedily or definitely support (him/her) in this trouble as long as You are pleased to keep (him/her) in it (ref#34, March 4th AM).

“Be submissive, meek, and quiet under God’s chastening and afflicting hand, and receive all His dispensations as only tending to prepare you more perfectly for ‘the inheritance of the saints in light’ (Col 1:12)” (ref#61, Oct 9th).

FATHER, You allowed Your Son to suffer so now He knows how _____ feels. JESUS, come and help ____ (Heb 2:18).

“Against me earth and hell combine,

But on my side is power divine;

Jesus is all, and He is mine”  Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Oct 9th AM)!

FATHER, when You come to deliver ____, the circumstances which seem to go against (his/her) deliverance will only set forth more of Your glory. The more awful You make (his/her) circumstances, and then turn and get (him/her) out of them, the more reverence from others and (him/her) You will receive. I cannot wish less misery for (him/her) than what You gave Your Son.

Keep (him/her), O GOD, send Your angel to strengthen (him/her) (Luke 22:43). Provide for (him/her) as You provided for Your Son. By faith I know it will be enough.

“Thy calmness bends serene above,

My restlessness to still;

Around me flows thy quickening life,

To nerve my faltering will:

Thy presence fills my solitude;

Thy providence turns all to good” S. Longfellow (1819-1892) (ref#59, p550).

ADORATION

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Prayer Facts:

Screen Shot 2015-11-06 at 4.01.16 PM“It is quite useless knocking at the door of heaven for earthly comfort; it’s not the sort of comfort they supply there.” C. S. Lewis (ref#31, p62).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You are extraordinarily patient toward me (2 Pet 3:9), I will wait for You.

Because You earnestly wait longing to be gracious to me (Isa 30:18), I will wait for You.

Because You discipline and instruct me (Deut 8:5), I will wait for You.

Because You exact less than my guilt and iniquity deserve (Job 11:6), I will wait for You.

SUPPLICATION

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SO AFFLICTED PRAYING IMPOSSIBLE

Screen Shot 2015-11-05 at 3.20.13 PM“The God of providence has limited the time, manner, intensity, repetition, and effects of all our sicknesses…the limitation on sickness is wisely adapted to our strength, to the intended purpose of the sickness, and to the grace apportioned. Affliction does not come haphazardly” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, August 17th, PM).

FATHER, ____ may be too deeply absorbed in sorrow, or too weakened by disease and racked with pain to muster prayers to You. Many situations make ____ unfit for concentrated spiritual thought. But, sweet JESUS intercedes in (his/her) stead (ref#61, Feb 10th).

“…when human sympathy and power are exhausted, Jesus has ‘entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God’ (Heb 9:24)” Octavius Winslow (ref#61, Feb 10th).

Pray for ____, JESUS. When ____ in (his/her) affliction cannot think of You, aid (him/her) to know You are thinking of (him/her). You live to make intercession (Heb 7:25).

THANKSGIVING DAY 2015

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Screen Shot 2015-11-14 at 4.31.50 PMWhen the temperature arrives at 32 degrees Fahrenheit it hesitates, failing to move smoothly on its upward or downward path because it is at the point of change—water must become liquid or solid. 32 degrees is a defining point.

Another defining point is when I stand between the physical and spiritual world. It requires work to get from one to the other—especially from the all-to-familiar physical world to the spiritual world.

Moving off the defining point cannot be done unconsciously, (particularly moving to the spiritual world). It requires knowledge of what’s happening and discipline on my part to move ahead. I must exert energy and consciously prepare. My favorite words for this is: “to be purposeful.” I must decide to move to the spiritual. GOD makes it possible but I must actually do it.

But there is even more involved. The moment I resolve to move I am immediately entangled in a war where I encounter resistance and must become a fighter.

“…the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion…” (Matt 11:12 AMP).

In every one of the seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation JESUS calls them to be conquerors (Rev 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21). So, this fight is not just a decision to move forward, it requires persevering—battling—“storming heaven.”  That’s my part but… I CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT GOD.

So this Thanksgiving I am pleased to thank GOD for providing strength so I can conquer the resistance and move into the spiritual world.

  1. Thank You, FATHER, for aiding my resolve to throw back the warm covers in the morning and rise to commune with You.
  2. Thank You for giving me an accountability partner to ride with so that I’m less tempted to be lazy or fall off from attending prayer group on Thursday.
  3. Thank You for providing an opportunity to serve on Sunday mornings and the conviction to fulfill my obligations with excellence.
  4. Thank You, LORD, for the self-motivation You impart so I am able to sit long hours and write in Your presence.
  5. Thank You for the love of music so I can endure piano practice and find You in the song.

FATHER, when I will, You give me the power to overwhelmingly conquer (Rom 8:37). You make it possible for me to move off the defining point between the physical and spiritual world. I cannot fathom a “thanks” big enough to offer You for this.

CONFESSION

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REFLECTIONS ON CHRIST

Screen Shot 2015-11-05 at 3.03.10 PMFATHER, my eyes are on CHRIST for “…my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly]…” (Phil 3:10 AMP).

FATHER, do not let me lose sight of my determined purpose. I gladly review the Glorious CHRIST through Your word.

CHRIST, You are gentle and humble in heart (Matt 11:29) and yet You overcome the world (John 16:33). You reflect the glory of Your FATHER and bear the very stamp of His nature; You uphold the universe by Your word of power (Heb 1:3) and yet You live and make Your home in me (1 John 3:24).

FATHER, in the face of JESUS CHRIST, Your glory is seen (2 Cor 4:6), yet CHRIST bears my grief and carries my sorrows (Isa 53:4). In Him all Your fullness dwells (Col 1:19), yet CHRIST personally rescues me and draws me to Himself, investing me with all the privileges of a new life in Him (1 Thes 1:10).

When CHRIST walked this earth, FATHER, He found that in Your presence, was fullness of joy and at Your right hand were pleasures forevermore (Ps 16:11). I desire fellowship with JESUS so that I may experience His joy of You fulfilled in myself. I want to comprehend CHRIST’s delight complete in me. Oh, that His joy may be perfected in my soul—that I may have His gladness filling my heart (John 17:13)

CHRIST is Your power working, FATHER, thus I have a personal trust springing from faith and leading to faith (Rom 1:16,17). Thank You for CHRIST Who is the Author and Perfecter of faith (Heb 12:2). Thank You for CHRIST Who enables me to move along in this world as He, Himself, did—from faith to faith.

SUPPLICATION

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PSALM 41

Screen Shot 2015-10-12 at 7.00.48 AMFATHER, You have placed ____ in a situation that makes (him/her) poor and helpless. Yet, FATHER, You pursue ____. You find (him/her) out, and look into (his/her) circumstances. You will not neglect, pass by, or be indifferent to ____’s plight (ref#16, [Ps 41:1]).

(He/She) is blessed because You rescue (him/her) in the day of trouble. In (his/her) distress You dignify (him/her) (Ps 41:1). FATHER, like a mother tending to a sick child, You make ____’s bed of pain tolerable for (him/her) causing (him/her) to bear the affliction with patience, and making (him/her) cheerfully wait the result. ____’s soul shall be, by Your grace, made to dwell at ease even when (his/her) body lies in pain (ref#18, [Ps 41:1-4]).

FATHER, I know that You will be gracious to ____. I know You are pleased with (him/her) and any enemies will not triumph over (him/her) because of (his/her) integrity that You have placed in (him/her). You joyfully keep (him/her) forever in Your presence (Ps 41:11-12).

You, O LORD, will not restrain Your mercy toward (him/her). Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness will ever preserve (him/her) (Ps 40:11). What effect can a mere illness or injury have on ____ when You uphold (him/her)? In the sight of You, ____’s affliction shrinks to nothing. I praise You who are all steadfast love.

FATHER, please note—I am not the ruler of my life asking for Your help. I am recognizing Your lordship and resting my trust in You for ____.

SUPPLICATION

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TO BE PURPOSEFUL

Screen Shot 2015-09-26 at 10.48.05 AMFATHER, prompt ____ to strip off and throw aside every encumbrance and let (him/her) run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before (him/her), looking away from all that will distract, to JESUS (Heb 12:1-2).

ATTENTIVE FATHER, allow ____ to discover the unnecessary things that are just occupying (his/her) time. Show (him/her) the things to do that are most worthwhile (ref# 81, July 29). In all (his/her) affairs may (he/she) distinguish between the important and the urgent.   May (his/her) character and not (his/her) circumstances chiefly engage (him/her) (ref# 76, p78). May (his/her) desires for a good self-image be replaced with glory-making for You alone. Soli Deo Gloria—To GOD alone the glory.

Embolden ____’s cowardly hesitation (Rev 21:8). You say the one who conquers will possess Your heritage (Rev 21:7).   Remind (him/her) repeatedly to be actively persistent—to be purposeful in (his/her) daily activities (Heb 12:1).

The one fact CHRIST mentions to all seven churches He addresses in the book of Revelation is if they overcome He will grant them fellowship (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26: 3:5, 12, 21). I pray for ____, FATHER, to prevail over the tangents on the race set before (him/her) whether they come in moments of urgency or during the mundane tasks of life.