Praying to Holy Spirit, Our Guide
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17).
These prepositions, “in” and “with”, are significant. Jesus was not waxing poetic. He was being instructive.
- “In” means the Holy Spirit dwells in the spirits of all who believe in Jesus Christ. When we were born again, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to live in us as the earnest of our inheritance.
- “With” means that He is not a passive passenger through your life. He is engaged as much as we allow Him to be. He is the Power of God in residence. We can through our inhibitions restrict His activity in and through us. Conversely, through stepping aside we can watch his power manifest the ministry gifts and office He wants active in our lives.
That means we have to give over control and let Him do what He wants. That’s scary. He is like a powerful wild horse; He can run away with us. But he will never buck us off. He will do far more in and through us than we can imagine, more than we are comfortable with, but far more effective in glorifying God than we could ever do by our inhibited selves.
As we pray, lets tune in to the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to direct our prayers. Let’s release His power to make our prayers effectual and fervent, ascending to God and gladdening His Father’s heart.
Order of Prayers
First, share your concerns, prayer requests, praise reports and offerings of thanks for God’s blessings.
Next, we will pray to release the Holy Spirit, so each one will pray in the power and love of the Spirit for us and those we pray for.
Opening Prayer
Jesus, You taught us to pray. First You set the example of praying fervently to Your Father. You prayed often and long. You taught us that those who worship must worship in Spirit and in truth. So, now we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, and release Him to pray through us.
Prayers of God’s People
Pray as you feel led by the Holy Spirit to pray
Concluding Prayer
Lord Jesus you sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, and we acknowledge His ministry among us. Lead us in our prayer life to acknowledge the blessing of the Holy Spirit assisting our prayers.
We offer the prayer that You taught us, Lord Jesus, saying:
The Lord’s Prayer
Thanksgiving 2019
Thank You, Jesus
We Have All the Parts
We live in the midst of complexities not only all around us, but also within us. Some of you have a scientific bent. You have an awareness of the complexities of our world. Those with a medical background are aware of the complexities of our bodies. Some who have struggled with health or finances or family or jobs have an understanding of the complexity of life.
There is a concept of “irreducible complexity”. That is, something that is complex has to have all the separate, individual parts working together or it doesn’t work.
Our eyes are a good example of irreducible complexity: the clear lens moves to focus on an object. Light passes through the lens and through the clear vitreous humor in the eye to play on the rods and cones of the cornea. The cornea transfers the light rays into electrical impulses that are sent along the optic nerve. The optic nerve delivers the electric impulses to the visual cortex of the occipital lobe. The visual cortex recognizes the image as your child, which makes you happy. All the parts are absolutely necessary. Any one missing and you cannot see.
Evolution vs. Intelligent Design
Evolutionary scientists tell us that we were created by mutations that enhanced our survivability, thus they were, over time, embedded in our genes. All mutations that did not enhance survivability were sloughed off.
Now let’s examine this: Why would an optic nerve be embedded in our genes if it had no eye to receive light? What would cause the lens to be embedded in our genes if there were no cornea to receive the light rays? If there were no rods and cones to transform light into electrical impulses why would the visual cortex become embedded in our genes? In order for the eye to work, that is to add to our survivability, all the many individual parts had to be all together all at once. The chance of all those intricate and complex parts (and many I did not mention) to be a random mutation in place together at the same time in an individual, even in rudimentary form, is infinitesimally small even disappearing into impossibility. Further, should that impossible mutation occur, as soon as mating takes place the mutated characteristic would be corrupted by the dilution of the mate that did not have that characteristic.
God Gives Us All We Need
The alternative is that our eyes and we ourselves were Created by an Omniscient and Omnipotent Being who engineered the eye and all of the body to bring us into being altogether, all at once. That Being is God. He designed us and He created us as intricate irreducible complexities.
So as we approach Thanksgiving, let us cast our eyes (Thank You Lord!) on the wonderful food (Thank You Lord!) and the family and friends (Thank You Lord!) in our lives, recognizing that we and everything around us has been fearfully and wonderfully made by the Lord God omnipotent! Let that recognition bring us to our knees in deep, heartfelt gratitude to Him.
Thanksgiving Prayer
As we pray this morning we’ll first pray for our concerns, each one praying loudly and clearly, and thank God for the answer as you conclude each prayer.
Individual Prayer
First, we will pray for our concerns and share our thanksgivings. Open your hearts to the Holy Spirit and allow him to lead you verbally or internally. Pray in your own words until your heart is lightened.
Group Prayer
Next, let us pray together, lifting our hearts as one.
Jesus, You have given us so very much to be thankful for. Hear the depths of our hearts. Prompt us to be praying and living in praise of Your glory.
Therefore, we now join in praying as You taught us: Saying together…
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Way, The Truth and The Life
We Were Taught to Be Good
I first met our dear friend when I was in college. My wife knew her in high school. We were all members of the college group, across from the University of Washington campus.
That was a time of the beatniks and when drugs first were rampant on the “Ave” in the University District. We were all good people. We were raised in Sunday School. We had all been trained in the church. We didn’t take drugs.
I was taught in Sunday School, “You don’t have to say you are a Christian, just live your life and people will know you are.” They taught us that if we were good persons we went to Heaven when we died. We weren’t taught about sin. We were taught to obey our parents, the law and be respectful to older persons. They taught us courtesy, generosity, loving everybody. We were taught to go to church because there you were taught to be good.
Hell was an unspoken threat – never mentioned but sort of known as a bad place where you didn’t want to go.
So, we grew up with a moral code that was supposed to get us through life. But we did not obey it strictly. We obeyed and were good when we could be seen, but when parents or authorities were not looking we chose to stretch the limits to the breaking point and beyond. But we were good people!
We were never taught the hard truths of Scripture and of God,
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God! (Romans 3:23)
All we like sheep have gone astray. (Isaiah 53:6)
They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. (Romans 3:12)
We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
Those are the harsh words of the Gospel, the Good News. We never heard them and would have disregarded them if we had.
We had fun together. No one got hurt. We were living in a prosperous America. Our parents were comfortably well off. What was there to worry about? We graduated, then got jobs or married or both. Children came along. We were adults in churches.
We Were Wrong
Then someone came into our lives teaching that our complaisant lives were not good. He said we were going to Hell because we did not believe in Jesus as God, Lord and Savior. Because we had not surrendered our lives to Jesus, we were doomed for eternity. I, for one, tried to ignore that unpleasant teaching.
Funny thing about truth. It has a way of being right and being persistent. The truth is that we had been wrong. All our Sunday School teaching had been wrong because it emphasized earning our way into God’s favor by being good.
We were wrong to disbelieve in the devil and in Hell. Both are real.
We were wrong to think that if we could balance out more good than bad we were set to go to heaven.
We were wrong to not believe that there will be a final reckoning, a Final Judgment when Jesus as the Righteous Judge will assess each person’s life.
We were wrong to discount Jesus as being just a good man instead of God’s righteous Son and our only Savior.
We Met Jesus
My wife believed the man and surrendered her life to Jesus. A real transformation happened. The Real Live Jesus, unseen, but very real, became a part of her life, filling the void that had been there.
Next, despite the fact that I was satisfied with my life, I met the real, living Lord God, Jesus Christ. He changed me completely, too and showed the true way to love, joy and peace. He has led us for half a century.
A year or so after my wife and I were saved, Jesus gave us the privilege of leading our friend to Jesus. Then the Holy Spirit led her to Overlake Christian Church in Kirkland, where she received excellent teaching.
From the moment she acknowledged Jesus was God and her Savior, to the moment of her death, she had absolute assurance that because she belonged to Jesus, she had nothing to fear in the Final Judgment. Scripture is full of that assurance.
“Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13)
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)
Our dear friend doesn’t believe that anymore because she has no need for faith. She is in the Presence of her Gracious, Loving Father and she knows His grace and salvation!
We Can Be with Jesus
Let me tell you what she is currently experiencing with Jesus. She has cast off her temporal, diseased, pain-ridden body. She has been clothed in a celestial body that never will experience pain. All sadness has been banished and replaced by eternal joy. There will never again be any grief at partings. On the contrary, there will be joyous greetings with those who have gone before and with those who will come after. She is seated with Jesus on His throne. She will spend everlasting life in His love. She is now receiving and will ever receive the love of her Heavenly Father. And that is wonderful beyond our imagining. She will be loving others to a far greater extent than she could in this life.
That is wonderful for her right now. And it is wonderful for all who have given their lives to Jesus and God the Father and the Holy Spirit, all those throughout the past and all who will in the future.
Now it is your turn, it is in this place and at this time that you can make the decision to affirm your faith in Jesus; to avoid eternal separation from the love of God the Father and to avoid the eternal misery of Hell.
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31)
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
We Can Receive the Free Gift
When she knew she was dying, our dear friend was confident in her place in the family of God. She knew she was going to be with Jesus. When I talked with her a week before she died she spoke with anticipation of leaving this life to be in God’s glorious Kingdom forever. She is there now.
Is there is any doubt in your heart that you are on Jesus’ pathway to Heaven? Now is the moment of decision.
Don’t waste your life! Come now into the joy that awaits all who confess the Lord Jesus as God and accept His forgiveness for all your sin. Receive today the free gift of eternal life!
Please pray with me
I believe that You are real Jesus. In many ways, I have not lived to give you glory. I am sorry for my lapses. Please forgive me and draw me into Your loving Presence. I give you my life. Cleanse me and present me to Your Father as Your own. Thank you for saving me, Jesus.
The Lord’s Prayer
Now, Lord, we open our hearts to seek Your blessings for each of our lives through the prayer that Jesus taught us. Saying…
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
Yield Not To Sin
Your Reasons to Pray
Before I begin my introduction to prayer, please consider the concerns that are on your hearts.
God created us with volition, the capacity to choose.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. (Genesis 2: 16-17)
He gave Adam a choice from the beginning. This was before Almighty God created Eve from Adam’ rib. So, when Adam instructed Eve he pointed out that they had a choice between the two trees the good one and the bad one.
Much later on, Moses quoted God in saying,
See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. (Deuteronomy 30:15)
Shortly thereafter, Joshua challenged the Children of Israel,
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)
The history of the Jews clearly shows their choices. When they single-heartedly served God, they prospered. When they sinned against one another and against Him they suffered, at times greatly.
Our Puritan forebears came to this land and sought to establish a city set on a hill, whose righteousness would be a beacon for all to come and share in the blessings of God. They established a loving community of single-minded service of neighbor and single-hearted service of God. The first generation, at the first sign of trouble dedicated themselves, as a community of believers, to prayerfully search their hearts to seek out and confess sin. In loving response, God miraculously, time after time, delivered them.
Unhappily the next generations began to prosper and began to rely on self instead of Jesus. When trouble, God’s warning sign, came their way, they dug themselves out with their own wits and strength. They unconsciously chose against God.
Choose Righteousness
Today, America is on a path they are paving with the denials of God:
- denial of His existence
- denials of His hand on individual lives
- denials of salvation through Christ alone
America is evading and ignoring God‘s warning signs. We are continually choosing the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We are continually choosing sin, not God. We are continually choosing human knowledge, not life eternal.
God keeps telling people everywhere, “Do not yield to sin.” He is calling, “Choose Me, choose righteousness!”
We are believers in the reality of God, in the assurance of salvation through Christ alone and in the truth, that the only true and righteous God will punish sin. Therefore, we need to pray for America and the people around us who are oblivious to their horrific peril.
After we pray for America I will give you the opportunity to pray for the concerns that you have declared.
Please pray with me.
Lord God, Holy Spirit, we acknowledge we are sinners saved by our Lord Jesus Christ. We are aware that while He has atoned for all our sin, we still sin each day. One of the fruit You ripen in our lives is faithfulness. We ask that You make us faithful to our Lord in seeking after righteousness and turning our backs on sin.
Father, we desire to be obedient children and faithful stewards of the gift of life You have given us: life in our initial birth into the world and life in the spirit; therefore, we choose life and obedience to You, and we choose to reject our tendency to sin.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for indwelling us and in tirelessly guiding us to and along Jesus’ way of obedience.
Amen
Please pray with me.
Please pray that America will have a spiritual awakening and put Jesus back on the throne of our nation.
Please pray for the concerns that have been announced.
Please pray for our church our Pastor and for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Lord’s Prayer
Now, Lord we open our hearts to seek Your blessings for each of our lives through the prayer that Jesus taught us. Saying…
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Our Lord, Jesus, is Magnificent
O Magnify the LORD with Me
Oh, sing unto Jehovah a new song:
Sing unto Jehovah, all the earth.
Sing unto Jehovah, bless his name;
Show forth his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
His marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised:He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols;
But Jehovah made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him:
Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe unto Jehovah, ye kindreds of the peoples,
Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength.
Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name:
Bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Oh worship Jehovah in holy array:
Tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, Jehovah reigneth:
The world also is established that it cannot be moved:
He will judge the peoples with equity.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;
Let the field exult, and all that is therein;
Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy
Before Jehovah; for he cometh,
For he cometh to judge the earth:
He will judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with his truth.” (Psalm 96:1-13)
Please Pray with me.
Oh Lord, our Lord, You are our God And you are the God of all nations. As we bow in submission to Your Omnipotent Authority we acknowledge our unworthiness in and of our selves.
But in triumph, we assert that through Your Son our Lord we are now one with You. We come before You, our Father trusting in the blood of Christ to cleanse us and His righteousness to make us worthy.
Thank you, Almighty Father for Your magnificent provision for each one of us here present.
You have shown us, and our knowledge of the world teaches us that there are multitudes in the world who are dying without Christ. Who are consigned to everlasting darkness and fear and loneliness and torment?
It is our prerogative and responsibility to deliver to them Your Truths. Give us a burden for the unsaved. Give us a passion for reaching unbelievers with the most vital message in all the world – Jesus saves!
Your message is simplistic but powerful. It is the greatest news in the history of the World, but so very hard to share. We hesitate or don’t even think of it when in the presence of unbelievers – our neighbor next door, our co-worker, the woman in the checkout line ahead of us or the man behind. Give us he forethought and courage to speak to them about the love we have found in Jesus and God’s truth – Jesus saves!
Almighty and most powerful and fearsome God Our Father, most righteous and perfect God our Savior, Most Holy and loving Spirit, Who convinces us of sin, we come now before Your majesty.
We come to intercede for our missionaries. They are on the front lines in the battle to rescue the souls of men and women from condemnation. Prompts us to pray often for them. Move us to support them with generous offerings. Empower them by Your Holy and mighty Spirit to proclaim boldly, Jesus Saves!
Please Pray for our Missionaries
We lift our hearts to give thanks to our God for Your love for all Your children. Lord, Jesus, You have sheep in many other pastures. We recognize these as our brothers and sisters. Here in the Holy of holies we bow before Your throne and offer brothers and sisters we do not know to You for Your help, for Your healing, for Your deliverance, for Your instruction in righteousness, and for Your blessings of basic necessities and safety.
Please Pray for our Brothers and Sisters around the World
Please Pray for our Loved Ones in Need
To You, our God, we offer Honor Praise and Glory. We declare Your Majesty, Dominion, Power, Grace, and Love in the joy that You have given us.
Hallelujah, Lord God Most Holy!
Join with me now in offering the prayer that our Lord Jesus taught us, saying…
The Lord’s Prayer
Now turn with me in honoring our Lord Jesus in the prayer that He taught us, saying…
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Father’s Day
Fatherhood of God
Scripture is filled with passages that affirm the truth that God is not only our Creator, but He is also our Father. Here are just a few:
Wherefore David blessed Jehovah before all the assembly; and David said, Blessed be thou, O Jehovah, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. (1 Chronicles 29:10)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
For thou art our Father, though Abraham knoweth us not, and Israel doth not acknowledge us: thou, O Jehovah, art our Father; our Redeemer from everlasting is thy name. (Isaiah 63:16)
…but I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:44-45)
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13)
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. (Romans 8:14-17)
Please Pray with me
We are deeply Grateful, Almighty Lord God and our Father that You have bestowed upon us the inestimable honor of adoption as Your daughters and sons. We desire to live in ways that honor You. Guide us by Your Holy Spirit.
Please pray your prayer of thanksgiving to your Father.
Pause for Prayer
Father, you have called us to be your children and joint heirs with Jesus. You have enlisted us in Your service as intercessors to pray for the world, for our brothers and sisters in Christ for Rulers and all in authority, and for the needy.
Please present your intercessions to your Heavenly Father who is always ready to hear.
Pause for Prayer
We individually and jointly thank you for the father’s you gave us. We ask your blessing on them. Grant them your everlasting grace and peace.
Now, Father as Your beloved children, we join our hearts together in honoring You with the prayer Jesus taught, saying.
Join with me in the Prayer that Our Savior taught us, saying…
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen
Memorial Day Prayer
We Have Been Saved
But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. (1 John 14:26)
Please Pray With Me
Father, we remember all the ways you have blessed our Nation.
We remember that your Son paid a bloody price to deliver us from the bondage of sin and the wrath of God that would certainly condemn us to everlasting torment. We remember Your son bravely confronting the withering criticism of the arrogant leaders of the Jewish faith.
At our beginning, you caused us to win the war for independence. We had no right to win against the greatest Army and Navy in the world at that time. We won by retreating more than engaging. We won with a group of citizen soldiers. We remember we you gave us the victory, as You gave the victory to the Children of Israel.
As our Nation matured you called attention to the blot on our independence. You prompted us to abolish slavery. We paid a bloody price to win the freedom of the negro race from slavery.
We remember the young men who courageously fought in the deserts, and stormed the beaches in the face of enemy fire.
We remember those who have stood as our shields against enemy attack and have secured peace for American families, grandparents, and children in their homes.
We remember that You are the Prince of Peace and that You are our shield, fortress, our high tower. You are the God who loves us and gives us life eternal, gives us joy in this life and gives us your wonderful, but unfathomable love.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)
Amen.
Pray with Me
Please pray for thanksgiving for all the wonderful blessings God has given us.
Please pray for your family members who have served in the Armed Forces past and present.
Please pray for the men and women who are at this moment in combat and mortal danger.
- The Army
- The Navy
- The Coast Guard
- The Marines
Please pray for the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces—that God, the Holy Spirit will give him the wisdom to pick America’s fights only as the Sovereign Lord God directs.
Please pray for the needs of our nation, for your church and for your family and friends.
The Lord’s Prayer
Now turn with me in honoring our Lord Jesus in the prayer that He taught us, saying…
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
One, True God
February 12, 2017
The Existence of Our Amazing God
“There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might.
Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms is none like you.They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood! Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men.
But the Lord is the true God; is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.” (Jeremiah 10:6-10)
A January 2017 survey from YouGov.com reveals that 76% of the nation personally believes in the existence of a God
That percent is down sharply from 2011 Gallup Poll that reported 92% believe God exists.
I suspect that half of those who say they believe in God, do not believe in a personal God. They understand God as one who created all things, set them in motion and left the world for us to manage. That is a Deistic “Clockmaker God”.
In contrast, we, who have affirmed that we believe in the personal God, because we have embraced Jesus as our Savior, the Father has adopted as His sons and daughters.
Certain That We are Known
Therefore, I’m asking that we pray in two modes:
- First, we’ll pray corporately and individually to acknowledge our One, True God. I will pray a general prayer and then pause so each who would like to may affirm his or her love for God in a personal way.
- Then I will offer a prayer for the joys and needs we have and know of. Again, I will pause to allow individual prayer.
Please join with me in expressing to God what He means to us.
Prayer
You are our God. You have come to each of us personally. You know us intimately. You love us extravagantly. You are active in our lives daily. We are so privileged to have You as our God. We love You Father, our Brother, our Master and our Friend.
Pause for Prayer
Please offer your expressions of thanksgiving, praise, and petition to our loving God.
Prayer
Our gracious Lord God we are deeply thankful that You have become a significant force in our lives. Your love for us emboldens us to come before You to express our needs and those of people we care for.
Pause for Prayer
Hallelujah! Our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We open our hearts to You to fill us with your truth and love. Give us the power to live our lives as proof that you are real, active and loving God.
Join with me in the Prayer that Our Savior taught us, saying…
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen
Loveliness of God
April 30, 2017
Meditating on God
Here are the middle verses of Psalm 19.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalms 19:7-11)
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Since our God is infinite and perfect; therefore, His loveliness and lovableness are worthy of our most passionate expression. This love expressed for God’s word is in a sense a proxy for our love for God.
If God’s word is more to be desired than gold…sweeter than honey…in the keeping of them is a great reward, what then Is God Himself? How should our hearts respond when we focus on Him to speak to Him?
John Piper says in his great book, Desiring God, “True worship must include inward feelings that reflect the worth of God’s glory… But there is such a thing as hypocrisy – going through the outward motions (like singing, praying, giving, reciting) which signify the affections of the heart that are not there.”
A bit later he says, “Worship is authentic when affections for God arise in the heart as an end in themselves.”
Receiving God’s Love
As we turn to prayer, let us each recognize that the most loving Father, the most generous Saviour and the most gracious Spirit are tenderly and compassionately hearing what we pray. He is Present with each of us individually because he loves each of us. Knowing this, let us open our hearts to receive His adoration and allow our gratitude to express our love, adoration, and joy in His presence.
Prayer
Father, it is beyond our understanding the You, El Shaddai, Almighty God, should condescend to be Present with each one of us. Loving Lord Jesus, our gratitude is overwhelming, when we consider your magnificent sacrifice for each one of us. Ever present guide, Holy Spirit, free our hearts to be filled to overflowing with our love for You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Please offer your hearts to God to fill with His love.
Pause for Prayer
Prompted by the love of God, lift to him the burden that is in your heart for others and for yourself.
Pause for Prayer
Mighty God and majestic Lord, You have in mercy and loving-kindness come to each one of us. You have moved into our hearts to dwell with us in all we do. We are in humble awe of that fantastic truth. We thank you and surrender to your love as we join in the Prayer that Our Savior taught us, saying…
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen
The Prayer of the Chalice
Father to Thee I raise my whole being
– a vessel emptied of self. Accept, Lord,
this my emptiness, and so fill me with
Thyself – Thy Light, Thy Love, Thy
Life – that these Thy Precious Gifts
may radiate through me and over-
flow the chalice of my heart into
the hearts of all with whom I
come into contact this day,
revealing unto them
the beauty of
Thy Joy
and
Wholeness
and
the
serenity
of Thy Peace
which nothing can destroy.
The Prayer of the Chalice
