Daily Prayer: November 2011

Hear me when I call

"Hear me when I call, O God of my

righteousness; thou hast enlarged me when

I was in distress; have mercy upon me,

and hear my prayer"

(Psalm 4:1)

~~~~~~~~

Lord, thank you for hearing our cries. Thank you for caring about the things that take place in our lives. When we are lonely, you are there for us. When we are sad, you fill us with joy. When we call out your name, you answer us. All we have to do is reach up and you are already reaching down to us. We stand in awe of you and your power and sovereignty. Thank you for tending to us in our times of intense need. You are merciful and gracious and we give you praise. God, you are so good.

Amen

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A Prayer to begin Advent

As we begin Advent, we light one candle in the midst of all the darkness in our lives and in the world. It symbolizes our longing, our desire, our hope. Three “advents” or “comings” shape our desire. We want to be renewed in a sense that Jesus came to save us from our sin and death. We want to experience his coming to us now, in our everyday lives, to help us live our lives with meaning and purpose.

“Lord, the light I choose to let into my life today is based on my trust in you. It is a weak flame, but I so much desire that it dispel a bit more darkness today. Today, I just want to taste the longing I have for you as I go to the meeting this morning, carry out the responsibilities of my work, face the frustration of some difficult relationships. Let this candle be my reminder today of my hope in your coming.”

Amen

..an Advent thought and prayer from Creighton University.

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Home in Heaven

Early Thanksgiving morning, our dear friend Janis left this life and began her new life in heaven. How appropriate that the Lord would call her home on Thanksgiving, as she had been such an inspiration of a godly woman, praising God and giving thanks throughout her long and painful illness.

Please join me in prayer for her husband Les, and family. My Don will be doing the funeral service on Saturday to celebrate her life. Before she passed away, she discussed her funeral with Don, and wanted to make sure the gospel message would be part of the service. Please add Don to your prayers that her service will bring honor to God, and hope to the family and friends.

Amen

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Running Together

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." 1 Corinthians 9:24

I have a race to run. God has given you a race to run as well. Every man runs his own race. We're not racing against each other to win the victor's crown. We are in a pilgrimage together. I'm not trying to outrun you. And you're not trying to outrun me. That is good news!

God has a plan for your life with particular speed bumps, detours, and hurdles to cross. And you are to stay in the race until it is over. But you are not running alone!

Though we are not in the same race, we are in the journey together, so we encourage one another to win. And I want you to win the victor's crown today! Run, my friend, run! ~LWF

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thursday: seven

You shall not commit adultery.

O Lord, through your grace you joined me with another. Who could find fault in your will?

While I cannot imagine being with someone else, the truth is I have imagined just that.

Thank you dear God for providing me with all I would ever need. Thank you for the gifts of love, friendship and passion and one with whom to share these joys.

Keep our minds in line with our bodies. Keep our bodies in line with our spirit. Keep our spirits attuned to your fine glory.

Amen

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A prayer of thanksgiving to our Lord

"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,

and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.

For the LORD is a great God,

and a great King above all gods."

(Psalms 95:2,3)

God, we are so thankful for the abundant blessings that you so lovingly bestow on us daily! We give you praise and glory for the unmerited favor of your amazing grace. We bless you for the mighty and powerful works that you do in us and through us through the power of your Holy Spirit. We thank you that you still perform miracles in our lives. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the provision of our daily needs. Help us to never forget that all things are sent by your sweet and loving hands. We give you glory and honor and praise for who you are.

"O come, let us worship and bow down;

let us kneel before the LORD our maker"

(Psalm 95:6)

Amen

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With a Grateful Heart

This is the month of Thanksgiving and this simple song from the 70s speaks so deeply to me of how we are to give thanks in every situation and in every season of our life. Won't you take a few minutes and join me in singing and praying it?

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give Thanks because He has given
Jesus Christ His son

And now let the weak say I am strong
Let the poor say I am rich
Because of what the Lord
Has done for us.

Give thanks
We give thanks to you Lord
Give thanks
We give thanks
Give thanks, give thanks
We give thanks to you Lord.

Amen

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"If my People ~~~"

In life there are many "what ifs" ~~ Such a small word, but so much hangs on it. Take this passage in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "IF my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Thank you, Father, for these wonderful words of assurance. Thank you for the privilege You give to us by allowing us to seek You, and by honoring the sincere prayers of Your people. Thank You for your promise to hear us. Thank You for your promise to forgive us. Thank You for your promise to heal us. You are truly "the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin" (Ex.34-6-7)

"Stretch out Your hand

And heal this nation,

Stretch out Your hand

And bring restoration.

Let Your mercy overflow us

Like a never failing stream,

By the blood of Jesus cleanse us,

Oh Lord, it's You we seek,

Cause Your face to shine

Upon us again."

Scott V. Smith & Malcolm duPlesis (1995)

Desert Picture from googleimages.com

Amen

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Light of Hope in a Dark World

Isaiah 9:2 - “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

Imagine being in a cave without a flashlight. Can you see any shadows? You cannot even see your hand! Shadows are only visible in the presence of light. Regardless of how dark, how large, how absolutely ominous a shadow appears, it is only there because there is light. David says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Why? Because “Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Jesus has taken the sting out of sin and the fear out of the grave. He has empowered us with the Holy Spirit to give us confidence that He will always be with us and watch over us. ~Adrian Rogers

During the coming holidays there are many who are grieving the loss of loved ones. Pray for them. Send them a note of hope with 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

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For S

Dear Lord God,
My friend's daughter is scheduled for very serious surgery today, brain surgery and possibly fusion of several vertebrae. She is fourteen. I ask, Lord Jesus, that You be near to S through her operation, that Your peace be upon her mom and dad, and that You would wrap Your loving arms around them as she recovers in a hospital far from home. Please heal S quickly, Lord, and may the surgery be a success. Please be with her mom, as she spends her days watching over her daughter. And, Lord, thank you for giving S a mom who never gave up, a mom who believed her daughter over doctors who said there was nothing wrong, and for leading them to those who know this area of medicine best. I'm looking forward to the time when they both return home.
Amen

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thursday: six

“You shall not murder.”

Open my eyes, O Lord, to the value and sanctity of life. Life that exists beyond the flesh, in thought, in feelings, in spirit.

While I have not stabbed anyone, my God, I have often been quick to extinguish ideas, shoot down dreams, squash hopes and kill the remnants of joy.

We thank you for life, dear Father, and the grace upon which it stands. The first breath of every morning comes from you and you alone.

Let us not destroy what you have created. Let us learn to value life – including our own.

Amen

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Prayer is the answer

We serve a God that fights our battles for us. He is always there when we we need Him. We cry out in prayer and He hears. He answers. He delivers us.

Prayer is the answer to all the evils of this world. There is no tear that prayer can't wipe away. There is no depression that can't be lifted by it. There is no despair that prayer can't replace with hope. Prayer always brings God to our sides and it brings blessing and revelation of His power to our desperate souls.

Prayer is the answer to all our problems.

Lord, we will have troubles in this life. We will have hardships and trials to endure. But thank You that we can know we aren't alone in this battle. You are the King of Glory, strong and mighty. The battle is already won because You have overcome. We give you honor and we give you praise and we worship you with all that we are.

Amen

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Prayer for our Troops

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
And those who on the ocean ply;
Be with our troops upon the land,
And all who for their country stand:
Be with these guardians day and night
And may their trust be in thy might.

Amen.

Author Unknown (1955)

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My Lord, fill it.

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled.
My Lord, fill it.

I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.

I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent,
that my love may go out to my neighbor.

I do not have a strong and firm faith;
at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.
O Lord, help me.

Strengthen my faith and trust in you.

In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.

I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.

I am a sinner; you are upright.

With me, there is an abundance of sin;
in you is the fullness of righteousness.

Therefore I will will remain with you, of whom I can receive,
but to whom I may not give.

Amen.

...complements of Martin Luther

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What is the Source of Your Joy?

Psalm 86:12 - “I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Thy name for evermore.”

What is bringing you joy today? You say, “The Lord is making me happy.” How do you know it’s not that nice automobile? Or that “special someone”? Or your good looks? Or your bank account? Or your popularity? Here’s how you can know. By the process of elimination. Let God take away your health, your home, your job, and if you still have joy, then you know it is Jesus.

If you lose your joy when you lose any of these things, then you are an idolater because that is where you are getting your joy! I don’t mean that you cannot be temporarily upset over the loss, but if the joy goes out of your life, you weren’t getting your joy from the Lord. You’ll never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have. ~Adrian Rogers

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thursday: five

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”

Teach me to honor, O God. Open my eyes to the sacrifices my parents and elders have made on my behalf. Help me to understand what they need… how I can share my love.

Too often, Lord, I get caught up in my own life and the needs of my children. I fail to see the many opportunities to love and honor as you’ve commanded. Often, I see this as a chore, a burden.

Thank you God for the amazing gift of mothers and fathers. Thank you for putting it on their hearts to conceive me, to create me, to care for me, to nurture me. Even at times when relationships were rocky, or broken, they truly were and are such amazing gifts.

Help me love unconditionally. Help me honor with joy and grace. Show me how I can give more. Burn this commandment onto my heart.

Amen

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if... then...

"If my people, which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear

from heaven, and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land"

(2 Chronicles 7:14)

Amen

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Prayer for Compassion

O God, you made us in your own image
and redeemed us through Jesus your Son:
Look with compassion on the whole human family;
take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts;
break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love;
and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth;
that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

...from the Book of Common Prayer

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Learning to Lean

I thank Thee Lord, for shattered dreams,

For overwhelming torrent streams,

That swept away, the very thing,

To which I might have learned to cling.

I thank Thee Lord, for trials score,

That taught me how to trust Thee more;

For when I found no other stay,

I learned to lean on Thee each day.

Amen

... a prayer of Edna F. Sorrell

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God's Provision, A Living Testimony

Philippians 4:19 - “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

What is it about your life that you cannot explain apart from God? Do you know that’s the only part of you that is believable? Let me illustrate. If your neighbor can explain you, then you are just like him – only you’re religious. Friend, your life as a religious person is not going to convince him of the power of God. But when he sees God supernaturally meeting your needs, then, you’re going to be believable. ~Adrian Rogers

How is your life radiating the light of our Lord in your neighborhood? Invite your neighbors over for a night of fellowship, and share with them the Good News of the divine birth of Jesus.

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thursday: four

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

My Lord, I do not always remember the Words you tell me to remember. You have provided the perfect example of how I should conduct myself, day to day, week to week. Help me to follow the example you’ve provided.

I would never need to break this commandment if I didn’t try to derive satisfaction from a source other than you. You would think I could obey a commandment to do nothing—to rest—but even that I do not obey. Instead of following your example, I tend to my own life, on my own terms.

Thank you for rest, O God. Thank you for the example of how to enjoy rest. Thank you for the gift of green pastures and quiet waters where we can lie down and refresh our souls.

Let me honor you through the Sabbath day. Let me keep it holy. Let me honor me through the Sabbath day. Let me keep me holy. All praise and glory to God.

Amen

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prayer and worship

The House of God is a holy place for united worship. A quiet room is for individual prayer. Yet even in the House of God, there is the element of private worship.

God's people are to worship Him and pray to Him personally, even in public worship. The church is for the united prayer of God's family, but also for individual believers.

The life, power and glory of the church is prayer. The life of its members is dependent on prayer. The presence of God is secured and retained by prayer. The very place is made sacred by its ministry. Without it, the church is lifeless and powerless. - adapted from The Power of Prayer by E.M. Bounds

Precious Father, help me to keep my heart in an attitude of prayer at all times. May I bring my requests boldly to your Throne of Grace expecting and believing in the power of your Holy Spirit. Prayer is the beginning of worship and true Worship begins on our faces...

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord"

(Psalm 150:6)

~~~~~~~~~~

Amen

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