Daily Prayer: April 2010

Climbing Walls

For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall.
2 Sam. 22:30 (Ps. 18:29)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Each life is filled with obstacles. Some are set in place to offer Your children protection, some will be moved through prayer, and others are meant to be conquered through Your power and strength. I pray, dear Lord, that you would set our feet in place, that You would guide our hands and hearts, that You would give us eyes to see the way, and minds to know Your will. Give us the strength and determination to follow, and the grace to help and encourage others along the way.

Amen

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close to you

close to you right now

perhaps next door,
down the block,
around the corner,
or even closer

someone is waiting to be
touched by the grace of god

it is within their reach
always attainable
hidden in plain sight

my heart goes out to that one
who is close to you
right now

i pray that they
may feel god's grace
close to them

Amen

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A PRAYER FOR OUR NATION

If my people's hearts on humbled,
If they pray and see, My face,
If they turn away from evil,
I will not withhold my grace.
I will hear their prayers from heaven,
I will pardon every sin.
If my people's hearts are humbled,
I will surely heal their land.

Then my eyes will see their sorrow,
Then my ears will hear their plea;
If my people's hearts are humbled;
I will set their nation Free.
If my people's hearts are humbled,
If they pray and seek my face;
If they turn away from evil,
I will not withhold my grace.
~~Claire Cloniger (1986)

Prayer:
Holy God, You are just and compassionate. Though our nation turns it back on You, You do not stop calling us your people, warning us of the consequences of our sins. Lord do not let us be slow to repent and return to You. Do not let our pride or our shame keep us from setting our hearts on seeking You. Our country has been so blessed by You, help us humble our hearts, and seek Your face. Amen

Amen

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Prayer for truth

From the cowardice that dare not face new truth,

from the laziness that is contented with half truth,

from the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,

Good Lord, deliver us.

Amen

- Kenyan prayer

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Prayer for our Leaders

I love it how God wants us to have an attitude of prayer when it comes to those in leadership. Consider what Paul writes to Timothy:

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. -1Timothy 2:1-4

We ask you Father to give us a heart of prayer for those who lead our countries, our states, our courts, and our communities. We thank you for our leaders. We intercede for them asking that you would give them heavenly wisdom and understanding concerning the issues and decisions that come before them. We ask that you would develop humility and meekness in their hearts. Cause them to be men and women who seek after you and put you first in their lives. We ask that you would help them to have strong families and friends that surround them with godly encouragement and counsel. Above all we ask that your kingdom come and your will be done in their lives and the places that they govern. In Jesus' name.

Amen

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A Temple Prayer

A few excerpts from King Solomon's prayer in chapter 8 of 1Kings. I suggest that we substitute the temples that are our bodies for the temple of stone that Solomon built.

LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, 'My name shall be there,' that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.

Amen

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The House of the Lord

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD."
Psalm 122:1

Oh, Father,

Create in me a heart that is glad, a heart that longs to be in Your presence, a heart that is glad to be in the house of my God. There are so many times when my flesh desires to go the other way, when fatigue creeps in, when I just don't want to. Make me a blessing to others as they seek Your face. May I bring a smile or bit of encouragement to a hungry soul. Father, make me glad.

Amen

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With the blooming of my pure white Iris I have been meditating on verses that speak of purity.

Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

Psalm 119:9 "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word."

Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Titus 2:5 "To be self-controlled and pure....."

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble whatever is right whatever is PURE, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable ~~if anything is excellent or praiseworthy ~~think on these things."

Dear Lord, create in us a pure heart, please renew a steadfast spirit within me. Help me to live in your Word to keep my way pure. Lord, if I keep my heart pure, there is the promise I will see you. Lord, help me to be self controlled and pure in thought and action. And Father, can my thoughts only be on those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. I long to live a pure life and honor you with that purity. Amen

An update on Howard. He had the surgery and got his new heart. They said the surgery couldn't not have gone better. Now there is a waiting time of 7 days to see if the heart be compatible. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Amen

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We beg you, Lord...

We beg you, Lord,
to help and defend us.
Deliver the oppressed,
pity the insignificant, raise the fallen,
show yourself to the needy, heal the sick,
bring back those of your people
who have gone astray,
feed the hungry, lift up the weak,
take off the prisoners' chains.
May every nation come to know
that you alone are God,
that Jesus Christ is your child,
that we are your people,
the sheep of your pasture. Amen.

- Pope St. Clement I of Rome

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Prayer for those Grieving

My brother Bill lost his wife, Francine, this past week. They were married 42 years, have 3 married children and seven grandchildren. Please join me in praying this simple prayer for our family and others that are grieving.

You are our shepherd Lord.. you meet all of our needs.. we lift those grieving to you today.

We thank you for meeting all of their needs.. we pray that you would comfort them and hold them close to your heart.

We praise you that their need for rest is met in you Lord.. we pray that you would lead those in pain in ways that would restore their soul and help them grieve.

We are confident of your presence Lord.. we ask that your love would be felt by our friends as they travel through this dark valley of sorrow.

And this we ask for our friends - that goodness and mercy will follow them all the days of their lives and that they will live in your house forever.

Amen

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New Life

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Revelation 21:5

Father God,

I thank you this day that You have made all things new. I thank You for new life in the springtime, for newborn babies, and the promise that although our earthly tents grow old and tattered, there is a new life awaiting us on the other side.

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 Corinthians 5:1

Each year my flowers come to life, bloom, and then wither and die. They appear to be gone forever, yet the following spring return to live and bloom again; a picture of what the love of Christ can do within each of us. I am looking a little more forward to that day with every passing year, the day when the dead in Christ will rise.

Thank you, Jesus for the victory!

Amen

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Still praying for NOLA

In preparation for our trip to New Orleans next week, I asked my son Brian to guest-blog tonight. Please keep the people of New Orleans in your prayers.

Our Father who art in Heaven
Hollow be your name
Come down upon this earth
Let it never be the same

Give us your strength and grace
Allow us to take it to this place
We ask for courage to rise tall
Even after we’ve seen it all

The passage of time holds new chances
With each one our spirit enhances
Let your mighty power be seen
Leaving this place more pristine

Wishing a calm over the land
Rebuilding it to be grand
Build up the souls of the people
Looking upwards towards the steeple

Growing passion in our heart
Calls us to do our part
Your hand upon this endeavor
Makes its results last forever

Amen

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Howard gets a new Heart

Howard is a cousin by marriage and has been waiting a long time for a "heart". He has been in UCLA Medical center in ICU with his own heart working at 15%. The long wait for a match was ended yesterday as we got the call that a heart for Howard was waiting at 3:00 PM. We have not heard yet today his outcome, but you have prayed for him in the past, and now I ask you to pray that his body will accept his NEW HEART.

Aren't you glad you got a new heart when you ask Jesus to come in and make it NEW!

Lord, we as a group of prayer warriors lift Howard and Lou up to you, and your divine will. You have kept Howard alive, and now provided a new heart, and physicians skilled to put it in place...but only You Father, can keep it beating. This is our request! Amen

Amen

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A prayer of thanks

Almighty God,

You are the giver of every good gift.

We thank You for the gift

of Your holy word.

May it be a lamp to our feet

and a light to our way.

We thank You for all

You have given us.

Let us use our possessions,

our abilities, and our lives

to glorify You.

Take us and use us to love

and serve all Your people

in the name of Your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

_________________________

What are YOU thankful for today?

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What People Say About Prayer

Prayer is the voice of faith. -William Van Horne

Some people pray just to pray and some people pray to know God. -Andrew Murray

Courage is fear that has said its prayers. -Dorothy Bernard

Grant that I may not pray alone with the mouth; help me that I may pray from the depths of my heart” -Martin Luther

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart. -Mahatma Gandhi

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for power equal to your tasks. -Phillip Brooks

Amen

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Prayer for Families of Fallen Coal Miners

This week found many of us praying for the victims of the coal mine disaster in West Virginia. Today the last four missing workers were found bringing the final death toll to 29. Let us pray.

Father, our hearts break for the families of those who lost their husband, their father, their son, their brother, their relative or their friend. For these we simply ask that the Holy Spirit would come.. come in comfort.. come in wisdom.. come through others and help those hurting to grieve. Let the presence of Your body be evident Lord Jesus. Cause your people to be strong in compassion for those who are hurting so much. And we as You to especially protect grieving children. We commit these all to your care Lord proclaiming Your Word and Your Name over this horrible situation.

Amen

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Morning Worship

Your Name

As morning dawns and evening fades
You inspire songs of praise
That rise from earth to touch Your heart
and glorify Your Name

Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
'Cause nothing has the power to save
But Your Name

Jesus, in Your Name we pray
Come and fill our hearts today
Lord, give us strength to live for
You and glorify Your Name

Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
'Cause nothing has the power to save
But Your Name

Dear Lord,
I ask that your presence would be known at the memorial service for my second cousin this weekend. Please bring comfort to his family and only wise and careful words from those who will attend.
Amen

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praying psalm 28

Two people spoke to me today about Easter.

Neither would describe themselves as religious. And as we were in “business environments” the subject of God and faith would normally not come up in conversation.

Their circumstances could not have been any more different. One of these business colleagues lost her mother last week after a long illness. She was in mourning. The second had just been hired for a great job after a six month search. She was celebrating.

Both, however, were overcome with a feeling of joy and hope. And both attributed that feeling to Easter… to the point they felt compelled to share such good news.

So my prayer today is that the hope of Easter will continue to blossom this spring, and that the fragrance of this bouquet will fill the air and satisfy the gasping breaths of those most dear to us. Will you pray with me?

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Amen

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A Desire for Wisdom

James 1:5 " If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him."

If you believe that you don't need divine wisdom as you live in a sinful world, you're really deceived. When Jesus taught us to pray, he said "Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:13 That is a prayer for spiritual discernment or spiritual wisdom.

This should be our prayer ~~

"Dear Lord, please by Your Spirit give me the ability to discern when I am being led into something that is evil. Please give me the wisdom, insight, and scriptural sensitivity to allow me not to fall int the traps of the world, the flesh, or the devil. Amen."

Taken from John MacArthur's book "Teach me to Pray"

Amen

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To grow in grace as years go by

Now Lord, you’ve known me a long time. You know me better than I know myself. You know that each day I am growing older and someday may even be very old, so meanwhile please keep me from the habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from trying to straighten out everyone’s affairs. Make me thoughtful, but not moody, helpful but not overbearing. I’ve a certain amount of knowledge to share; still it would be very nice to have a few friends who, at the end, recognized and forgave the knowledge I lacked.

Keep my tongue free from the recital of endless details. Seal my lips on my aches and pains: they increase daily and the need to speak of them becomes almost a compulsion. I ask for grace enough to listen to the retelling of others’ afflictions, and to be helped to endure them with patience.

I would like to have improved memory, but I’ll settle for growing humility and an ability to capitulate when my memory clashes with the memory of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that on some occasions I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably kind; I’ve never aspired to be a saint; saints must be rather difficult to live with. Yet on the other hand, an embittered old person is a constant burden.

Please give me the ability to see good in unlikely places and talents in unexpected people. And give me the grace to tell them so, dear Lord.

Amen

- – Anonymous

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Prayer for Peace after SD Earthquake

A prayer from our friends at BeliefNet..

"God, we pray for all those who experienced fear and panic on Sunday as a result of the California and Mexico earthquakes. We thank you that it was not worse than it was. But we also ask that you comfort those who felt a spike of panic as a result. Recover their emotions. Guard them now against further fear. Bring peace where there was trauma. In Jesus..."

Amen

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Easter Prayer

How blessed is this day, when earth and heaven are joined and humankind is reconciled to God!

May the light of Jesus shine continually to drive away all darkness. May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, find his light ever burning in our hearts—he who gives his light to all creation, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

-- adapted from the Book of Common Prayer

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God's Provision

For every beast of the forest [is] Mine, [And] the cattle on a thousand hills.
Psalm 50:10

Dear Father,
This day I thank you for Your provision. You know each need we have and, if we only give You opportunity, You often meet them in ways we cannot imagine. This day, Father, I put our need before You. On our own we cannot meet this need, but You are able. Thank you, Lord, for taking care of us.
Amen

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praying pslam 22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel.

In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

"He trusts in the LORD;
let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him."

Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you
even at my mother's breast.
From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God.

Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

…
But you, O LORD, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

Deliver my life from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.

Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the congregation I will praise you.

…
They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
for he has done it.

Amen

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