Daily Prayer: 2013

Billy Graham's Prayer for the New Year

Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.

We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us—but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year.

In the midst of life’s uncertainties in the days ahead, assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love.

In the midst of life’s inevitable disappointments and heartaches, help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we will need.

In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost.

And in the midst of our daily preoccupations and pursuits, open our eyes to the sorrows and injustices of our hurting world, and help us to respond with compassion and sacrifice to those who are friendless and in need. May our constant prayer be that of the ancient Psalmist: “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end” (Psalm 119:33).

We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world. We pray especially for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms, even at the cost of their own lives. Be with their families also, and assure them of Your love and concern for them.

Bring our divided nation together, and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be. Your Word reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

As we look back over this past year we thank You for Your goodness to us—far beyond what we have deserved. May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget all Your mercies to us, but may they instead lead us to repentance, and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and center of our lives this year.

And so, our Father, we thank You for the promise and hope of this new year, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith. This I ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come.

Amen

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PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR

Proverbs 7:1-3 "My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablets of your heart."

Dear Lord, as we look ahead to a New Year, I will remember your words, "store up my commands within you." So I will feast daily on Your Word and hide it in my heart. Then in the day of trouble, when I am weak and tempted, I will recall Your instructions. They will be to me as spiritual food to nourish my soul and give me strength for the battle. I love you. Amen

Amen

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POWER

Ephesians 1:19-20 (NLT)

^“19I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power ²⁰that raised Christ from the dead……….”

Father, as I face the challenges and opportunities of a new year, it is with appreciation for your providence, protection and provision you so graciously have given in this past year. And yet a new year always comes with concerns and questions about the uncertainties of life. Many and difficult as they may be of this I am certain, ”the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.”

Father the power you exercised in raising your son from the dead is the same power you exert every day in sustaining, securing and supplying what you know is best for us. Help us to understand the far reaching impact your power has on every aspect of our lives.

Father, with the power that comes from your presence I look forward to 2014, and how “the incredible greatness of Your power “ will be seen in amazing ways demonstrating your love, your care and your involvement in the lives of those who believe in You.

And Father I also pray that Your power which (surpasses expression or comprehension.— Word Pictures in the New Testament) will bring honor and glory to your Name.

Psalms 91:2 (NLT)
²This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

Amen

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Peace in the Storm

Dear Father God,
I bring my family before You today and pray for peace. I ask a bit of calm in the midst of the storm. Other than that I'm not even really sure how to pray or what to ask. Maybe I have to go back ten years and pray again that You would do "whatever it takes" to once again turn my son around and bring him back into fellowship with You. It is a frightening request, Lord, because I don't know what it will take. I hope in Your mercy, but I know my own son too. In spite of my fears and reservations, You know best.
(Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions. Ps 132:1)
Amen

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The Day after Christmas

Lord,

You are the fount from which all blessings flow.

You are the Giver of all good things.

On this day after Christmas we ask that You would:

... be with those who felt alone yesterday;

... surprise those who are sad with joy;

... bring a new friend to the one who is sad;

... help us each to keep Jesus in the season;

... speak to us concerning goals for the New Year;

... open our eyes to what you are doing all around us

And teach us Lord to be thankful each day.

Amen

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Christmas Eve Prayer

Most Loving Father.

Thank you for this day and for all it represents.

Thank you for the hope you bestow, the peace you bring,
the love you pour out, and the joy you give.

We praise you most of all for Jesus, your Word made flesh.

May he light our way as the holy star lit the way for the wise men.

Amen

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Fourth Week of Advent / Christmas

Jesus, as your people longed for the coming of the Messiah, so we long for your return to set all things right. As we celebrate that first coming, help us to know that you will come again, as you promised. Amen

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Isaiah 9:2 "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined."

Dear Heavenly Father, I was one of those who walked in darkness. Your light that came into the world in the form of baby Jesus changed history, and changed my life. Sometimes I still walk in my own darkness because of my disobedience, but you are a loving and forgiving God, and I want to always walk in the light of your presence. This Christmas season give me the opportunities and the courage to share your light with those who are still walking in darkness. I love you. Amen.

Amen

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PEACE

PEACE

Luke 2:14 (NLT)
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Father one of the great gifts of Christmas is the peace you have given us in the gracious gift of your son.

It is peace with God^“…… who through Christ reconciled us to himself…. 2 Corinthians 5:18 (ESV)

It is the peace within which “…..exceeds anything we can understand. It is your peace that guards our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NLT)

It is the peace that restores our relationship with others and enables us to comfort them, agree with them and live with them in love. 2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)

Father, for this heavenly peace, that is such a priceless and precious gift thank you. Thank you because it makes living practical, meaningful and hopeful.

*This prayer if from Don Slaven..his computer was having problems, so it shows posted by Wanda. Hopefully the problem can be fixed by next week.

Amen

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It's Christmas Time Again

Oh, Lord...
Sometimes it's hard to know just how to pray. Christmas hasn't been the same the last few years, at least not since the fire in Webster, NY, the one that took the lives of Uncle Carmen and his two boys. I think that was probably the hardest December I ever had to face. How does one celebrate all things fun and merry when your childhood friends are suffering such anguish? And then last year tragedy struck the same small town where I grew up all over again when the firefighters were ambushed down by the bay the day before Christmas. All our hearts were broken. The entire community was stunned. Perhaps in some ways we still are. Folks are trying to remember in order to honor the fallen, but it brings such sadness... And this year, Lord, there are struggles within my own family. I guess one never really knows how the holidays will pan out. Yeah, there is more than enough pain and heartache to go around, and yet that is precisely the reason why you came. We break your heart too, don't we? That is why you came, wrapped in the skin of a baby and, born in a stable. That is why you gave your life, because your heart breaks too. I pray this Christmas that we will be able to see through the pain and heartache all the way to Hope. All the the way to Love. And all way to Faith in you.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all you've done for us.
Amen

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The Longest Night

As we prepare for Christmas it is always good to remember that this is a very difficult time for many among us. I have three friends who will be, for the first time, celebrating Christmas without their spouses. It gives me a heavy heart. I find myself thinking about this meditation (posted below), written in 2001 by Rev. Diane Hendricks. As you read it please pray for those who are hurting so much this season.

Longest Night Meditation

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Only it's not.

Not for everyone.

Not when there is an empty chair at the table.

Not when your body is ravaged with illness.

Not when the depression is too much to bear.

Not without her voice joining yours on the Christmas carols.

Not when you feel all alone even in a crowd.

Not when you are not sure you can even afford the rent or mortgage, let alone the presents.

Not when they are trying their best to the best of you.

Not when another Christmas party means he will come home drunk again.

It's the most wonderful time of the year?

No, it's not.

And trying to smile and say Merry Christmas is more than difficult. It's pretty near impossible.

C.S. Lewis once wrote:

"No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning..."

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Only it's not.

Not after he has died.

Not after the doctor gave you the news.

Not after they told you they would be downsizing.

Not after... you fill in the blank.

Not after September 11.

Not when there is so much violence and destruction in the world.

In truth, it has never been the most wonderful time of the year. Certainly not in the days surrounding that first Christmas so long ago. The story of the birth of Jesus is not to be told with a jolly voice and a merry ho-ho-ho.

It is the story of a teenage girl, pregnant with a child that is not her husband's.

It is the story of a child born in a dirty animal stall.
It is the story of a family of refugees who had to flee their homeland so that their child would not be killed.
It is the story of one sent into the world in peace who was condemned to death.
It is the story of a light sent to shine in the darkness, which the world snuffed out.
It is the story of God's never-ending, self-giving mercy which was rejected and condemned.
In the great work the Messiah, Handel quotes the prophet Isaiah, proclaiming that Jesus was "despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." One great theologian reminds us that we cannot come to the manger without acknowledging that it lays in the shadow of the cross.

It is not the most wonderful time of the year.

Only it is! It is:

If we forget about the tinsel and the trees.

If we forget about the holly jolly tidings.

If we forget about the presents and the ornaments and the trappings.

And remember. Remember the story.

Mary was alone and afraid.
But God was with her and exalted her among women.

Joseph was disgraced.
But God revealed in Joseph's cause for disgrace God's plan to save the world.

The world was in darkness.
But God sent the light of life to shine.

The lowly were imprisoned.
But Jesus set them free.

The blind wandered aimlessly.
But Christ gave them eyes to see.

The lame were rejected.
But through the Holy One they were made to leap and dance.

The deaf were confined to the silence.
But the song of life unstopped their ears.

The sorrowful grieved.
But God wipes away our tears.

We were alone.
But in Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God is with us.

The people rejected God.
But God embraces us.

The world crucified Christ.
But God would not allow that to be the last word, and gave us the sure hope of the resurrection.

It is the most wonderful time of the year, not because you have to be cheery and happy and merry.

But because you don't.

You can have heavy spirits and shattered dreams. Broken hearts and deep wounds.

And still God comes to be with you.

To comfort you.

To redeem you.

To save you.

To restore you.

To empower you.

To strengthen you.

To grant you peace.

To be raised for you.

To hold you in the communion of saints with those whom you have loved and lost.

To store your tears in his bottle.

To offer you eternal life.

It is the most wonderful time of the year.
For Christ is born.
Love has come.
God is with us!
Thanks be to the Lord our God.

Amen

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Father, I thank thee....

"Then they took away the stone from the place

where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes

and said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me"

(John 11:41)

Do we see the example of faith that our Lord Jesus gave us here? He was thanking the Father for the healing and raising up of Lazarus before it happened. Because He knew that the Father could do it and would do it. He had the faith that what He asked for would be done.

Don't you see that if we exercise that kind of faith in our Lord, we too, can experience miracles in our lives? Christ is showing us in His Word that it is all about believing deep in our hearts and souls. When we petition our God, He is faithful. When we cry out to Him, He hears. When we truly believe in His promises and His Word, He shows us His glory!

Let's live our lives in the realm of believing that His Word is TRUTH! Nothing is too hard for our God. Nothing is impossible to Him who believes. Get on your faces and cry out to the One who can do all things!

Amen

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Third Week of Advent

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Scot McKnight

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HOME

Luke 9:58 (TLB)

But Jesus replied, “Remember, I don’t even own a place to lay my head. Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Messiah, have no earthly home at all.”

Father, how strange it is that he who created a home for the human race found no home among the human race. And of course I am reminded of Luke 2:7 (NIV) “…she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

No home, no room for the creator of the universe except among the animals in a stable. And yet Father what an incredible way to demonstrate that Jesus did not come for the luxury of human wealth but for the love of personal relationship. “…that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor…..” 2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)

The home Jesus sought riches can never build because he seeks the home in the heart where there is room for him. Father how moving it is to consider what the Apostle Paul wrote: “Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.” Ephesians 3:17 (NLT)

And Father I would like to repeat this song as a prayer, written many years ago from the heart of Emily Ellicott, which I affirm today with deepest gratitude.

“O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee.”

Amen

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None can compare

"For who in the heaven can

be compared unto the LORD?

who among the sons of the mighty can

be likened unto the LORD?

(Psalms 89:6)

~~~~~~~~~~

There is no one like our God. Nothing can even come close in comparison to Him. He is mighty and He is powerful and He is all things to all people. We need to reverence Him like we believe that with all of our hearts, soul and mind.We need to worship Him like we believe that is true. Let's pray and ask our mighty God to give us the awareness we need to fully understand just how amazing and awesome He is. Let's begin to honor Him as the Almighty God. The King of kings and the LORD of lords.

Lord, give us a heart to acknowledge you for who you are. Omnipresent. Omniscient. Omnipotent. You are the One true God and no one can compare to you. Thank you, sweet Father, for loving us and sending your precious Son as the sacrifice for our redemption from sin.

"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,

and to be had in reverence of all them

that are about Him."

(Psalms 89:7)

Amen

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Second Week of Advent

Lord Jesus, you came as the Prince of Peace. Let your peace reign in our hearts and let it extend into our relationships with family, with friends, and with our neighbors. Let us be known as peacemakers. We long for the day when you return and bring peace for all your creation. Amen

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God's Mistletoe

God has given us the Bible as a means of knowing Him and enjoying his presence. It is a catalyst for worship. As Peter Kreeft so aptly stated, "Reading the Bible is putting yourself in the way, standing in God's great waterfall of 'living water'. ...If you stand in the Bible, you'll get kissed by God. It's God's mistletoe."

Dear Heavenly Father, when your sent your Son to this earth to be born of a virgin, live and minister, serve and die on a cross for our sins you were showing Your incredible love. Then you gave us the Word of God, the Bible, and that again showed your great love for us. Now we have Your Word, to be our road map for life. Truly I do feel kissed by You when I stand in your Word. Thank you for the mistletoe of your love, thank you for the Bible. I love You, I love your Word. Amen.

Amen

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JOY

Luke 2:10 (NLT)
……… great joy to all people……….

Father, in this Christmas season, celebrating the birth of your son, I marvel at the mystery of his incarnation into human history, the majesty of his annunciation by angelic beings and the jubilation of humble shepherds as they saw and shared the good news of the Savior lying in a manger.

And Father, such joy is not just in the event, but, especially in the experience of what it meant and would come to mean for countless millions of people in all walks of life. It certainly means the joy of a promise fulfilled, the joy of sins forgiven, the joy of peace of mind for all who believe, the joy of hope renewed and the joy of a future guaranteed. It is joy that the human heart can never contain. It is, Father, as the Apostle Peter so profoundly said: ^“….a glorious, inexpressible joy.” 1 Peter 1:8 (NLT)

Amen

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Please...

Dear Lord,
My tummy is tied in knots every time I think about it. There is nothing much I can do except to lay my heart before you and pray for my wayward child. I know you love him more than I could ever hope to imagine. I cannot follow him, I cannot change his ways, and I cannot even begin to know the depths of his hurting heart, but as a mother, I ache. I ache for my son, I ache for my daughter in law, and I ache for my dear, sweet grandchildren. I ache. Lord God, years ago I prayed that You would do whatever it took to bring my boy back to You. For a time he seemed to have returned. He is wandering again, farther than ever before. His marriage is disintegrating and he is headed for trouble. Please help. "Lord, remember David..." (Ps. 132:1) Amen

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all the while my breath is in me....

"...All the while my breath is in me,

and the spirit of God is in my nostrils...."

(Job 23:4)

Lord, our prayer today is that as long as we have breath in us, we will praise your Name! As long as your Spirit is upon us, we will glory in the Cross and what it means in our lives. May we be ever mindful of that precious and costly sacrifice that your Son made for us on Calvary. May we live every day of our lives in sweet expectation of doing your will and receiving the blessings of being obedient to you.

Empower us, Oh God, to be full of mercy and grace to others as you have so freely bestowed the same upon us time and time again. May we live our lives in such a way that we are lights for you in all that we do and say.

Thank you for loving us and thank you for guiding us. Truly, you are the King of kings and Lord of lords and we will worship you as long as we have a breath in our bodies.

Amen

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Grace to cast away the works of darkness

Almighty God, give all of us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

...from The Divine Hours written by Phyllis Tickle

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First Week of Advent

Lord Jesus, as your people once longed for the Messiah to come, so we long for you to come again and set all things right. As we wait, let your Kingdom come and your will be done in us and through us as it is in heaven. Amen

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THE LORD'S SUPPER

Communion Sunday ~ Remembering

I Corinthians 11:24 "...This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me . . . In the same way after supper he took the cup saying ~ this cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

Oh dear Lamb of Glory, I am humbled that You ask me to remember You ~ in spite of my wandering heart and habitual need for pardon. But gratefully, I take Your cup of mercy in the company of others. Together we worship, beckoned by grace to Your side, where we eat, drink and remember Your sacrifice. We love and adore you. Amen.

Precious risen Lamb, Jesus who was slain,

Now enthroned in glory, Forever You will reign.

Gladly we embrace both these signs of grace.

Thanks is offered up, in this bread and cup,

We remember You.

~Walt Harrah

Taken from the Maranatha Worship Bible (I Cor. 11)

Amen

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SATISFIED

Psalm 63:5 (NLT)
⁵ You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.

Father, what a wonderful and satisfying day Thanksgiving was. Family, food, laughter, football, delicious desserts, memories that will be legendary and journeying mercies. Yes it was the richest of feasts as we celebrated with joy your goodness and grace.

I do praise you Father for your mercies that are renewed every day. And these mercies are so plentiful, abundant and enriching to the soul. Indeed Father, from a satisfied heart I will praise you with songs of joy.

Amen

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Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day
We bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You’ve done

Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.

For beauty in nature, Your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy and care

These are the blessings You graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise
With a promise to follow You all of our days.

Amen.

...a prayer by Mary Fairchild

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Thanks

Father, we give thanks for your grace and mercy to us. Thank you for loving us when we were unlovely, for doing for us what we could not do, and for saving us. Thank you that we can call you Abba, knowing that you love and care for your children with an eternal love. We thank you that you delight to give us good things, and that your ways are always right. Help us to always be grateful for all that you have given us. Amen

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Overflows

Psalm 45:1 (ESV)
My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;

Father, it is Thanksgiving, that particular season of the year when we take note of your abundant kindness and gracious provision. It is not just counting our blessings but especially understanding their value as expressions of your love for us. It is truly a pleasant theme that brings joy to our heart as we remember and rejoice over your thoughtfulness and faithfulness that overflows with such abundance.

Father, the old Farmer/Psalmist said it so well:
⁹You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. ¹⁰You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. ¹¹ You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. ¹²The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, ¹³the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.Psalm 65:9-13 (ESV)

And Father, I sing for joy too because …. “my cup overflows”…. Psalm 23:5 (ESV)

Amen

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Storms

Dear Father
I've not been good at keeping up with my weekly Daily Prayer. I have been distracted, but Your hand is still upon me. You remain faithful when my faith is small. You remain strong when weakness overcomes me. Each morning You rain abundant blessing upon my life and the lives of those I love. You never leave us or forsake us, and when the ugliness of the world closes in, You are our shelter from the storm. There is always enough mercy, always abundant grace, forever a reason to give thanks.
Today I thank you for speaking to me in spite of the storms. I praise you for not leaving your children alone in a sinking ship. And Lord, I thank you that Peter, the disciple known so well for his failure, was also the one who had faith to step out of the boat and into the waves. I pray that for all my weaknesses, and in spite of them, that I would hear Your voice in the midst of the storm.
Amen

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Pray for Victims in the Philippines

Pray that our Lord will give an extraordinary amount of wisdom, steadfast spirit, keen insight, quickness to respond and political will among our national, regional and local government officials in mapping out and implementing a sustained plan of action for relief, rescue and rehabilitation.

Pray that the Lord will give them the mind of Joseph who knew how to direct the people when the seven years of famine struck Egypt. Such was his wisdom that no one lacked.

Pray that the millions of aid will be wisely distributed and allocated.

Pray that the Lord will give our Filipino brothers and sisters an unwavering faith in the Lord and that they will receive timely help in terms of food, water, medicines and a safe place to sleep for the weeks and months ahead.

Pray that the US military personnel sent to help will be able to quickly train Filipino local officials so that all (and not only a few) affected towns and provinces will receive timely relief help.

Pray that the aircraft sent to airlift goods and supplies will be safe and will help bring food especially to those towns where people have not eaten a single food since Friday.

Pray for miracles of healing to those who are ill, and for thousands and millions of Filipinos in central Philippines to come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior through the mighty work of the Holy Spirit.

Pray that the body of Christ in the Philippines, represented by the thousands of local churches will be a source of sustained blessing to the typhoon victims, in word and deed.

... these needs shared by Compassion International

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Prayer for Midwest

Father, bless those in Illinois and the other states who have been affected by the recent storms. Bring healing and comfort where it is needed and provide for those who have lost homes and possessions. Bless them as they rebuild, and help your people as they minister to their neighbors. Amen

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LETTING GO OF ANGER

Ecclesiastes 7:9 "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for ANGER resides in the laps of fools."

I must let go of ANGER by yielding my personal RIGHTS!

Dear Lord, why am I so easily prone to anger. Sometimes over the smallest unimportant things. It's something my old nature loves, and tries to get me angry almost daily. Every time, it's because I'm hanging on to MY personal rights, and not considering the other person. I want to be free of anger on a daily basis, Lord, please help me to let go of anger, and yield my personal rights to You, and to the person who has caused me to get angry. Lord let me realize as the little sign says, Anger is only letter short of danger. And that's were it always leads. I will let go of my anger, and I will let you be the sweet, sweet spirit I desire in my life. I love you, Amen

James 1:20 Tells us our anger will never achieve the righteousness of God and that is what I want to achieve in my daily life.

Amen

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GRANTED

1 Samuel 1:27 (NIV)
…..the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.

Father, when I think of Hannah and your answer to her prayer in the birth of Samuel her son, it is wonderful insight into your wisdom, love and purpose. Wisdom because your answer is always at the right time. Love because your answer is always motivated by your heart. Purpose because your answer always fits into your perfect plan for time and eternity.

Father, help me to remember that my prayers will always be granted on the same basis of your wisdom, love and purpose. What more could I ask for? Especially when you encourage me with the assurance of Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)^“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Thank you Father for the answers you have granted all of my life that have demonstrated your wisdom, expressed your love and fulfilled your purpose. Surely I can respond in the words of Hannah: “No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2 (NLT)

Amen

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faith and prayer

"The effectual fervent prayer of a

righteous man availeth much"

(James 5:16)

~~~~~

Faith and true prayer are like two sides of the same coin - they are inseparable!

A.W.Tozer says, "Whatever God can do, faith can do, and whatever faith can do, prayer can do when it is offered in faith."

An invitation to prayer is an invitation to omnipotence because prayer engages our Omnipresent God to draw close to our human affairs. The bible clearly tells us that we have because we ask and we have not because we ask not.

God wants us to bring our every need to Him. He wants us to draw close to Him and pour out our deepest feelings to Him. Our persistence in prayer will only serve to draw us into closer intimacy with Christ and that is what our Father desires.

I am thankful that our heavenly Father welcomes dialogue with us, His children. Let us not fail the Word of God by failing to pray. It is our lifeline and our hope.

Amen

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A Prayer for Our Journey

Dear Lord, I will remain restless, tense, and dissatisfied until I can be totally at peace in your house. But I am still on the road, still journeying, still tired and weary, and still wondering if I will ever make it to the city on the hill. With Vincent van Gogh, I keep asking your angel, whom I meet on the road: “Does the road go uphill then all the way?” And the answer is: “Yes, to the very end.” And I ask again: “And will the journey take all day long?” And the answer is: “From morning till night, my friend.”

So I go on, Lord, tired, often frustrated, irritated, but always hopeful to reach one day the eternal city far away, resplendent in the evening sun.

There is no certainty that my life will be any easier in the years ahead, or that my heart will be any calmer. But there is the certainty that you are waiting for me and will welcome me home when I have persevered in my long journey to your house.

O Lord, give me courage, hope, and confidence. Amen.

... a prayer offered by Henri Nouwen

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Veterans' Day Prayer

Father, we thank you for the freedoms you have given to us. We are grateful to those who have served our nation, and for those who currently serve. We pray for protection, for healing, and for your richest blessings on them. We long for the day when no one will have to kill or be killed, when your kingdom comes in its fullness. Amen.

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Letting Go . . .

Philippians 4:8 "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. FIX your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. THINK about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." (NLT)

I MUST let go of WRONG THINKING and change my FOCUS.

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to let go of my wrong thinking. My negative thinking, my selfish thinking and FOCUS on YOU! Focus on the things you are about. Things that are true (Your Word), things that are honorable and right (honesty). Things that are pure and lovely (Your holiness and love). Let me think of missionaries and pastor's giving their live in service, and think about how they are worthy of praise because they do it for YOU. Lord, erase from my mind WRONG THINKING, and replace it with your HEART. I love you and want You to be my focus. Amen

Letting go of wrong thinking and not complaining will give us a platform for ministry and sharing God's Word.

Amen

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Everything

Mark 10:21 (NIV)
²¹Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Mark 12:41-44 (NIV)
⁴¹Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. ⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

Father, it seems to me that these two people who had nothing in common yet in reality they had something very important in common. Each had an everything. Though there everything differed in amount it did not differ in percentage. For the rich young ruler his everything was an obstacle to keep him from you, for the poor widow her everything was an opportunity to express her love and devotion to you.

Father, what strikes me about the widow is that she did not give with pretense or presumption. She simply gave out of her heart. She understood and appreciated her relationship with you and her love for you withheld nothing and gave everything.

Father to give everything is supremely defined and expressed in Mark 12:30 (NIV): “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Surely that is everything and nothing pleases you more.

Amen

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A Prayer for the Church

My prayer for the church is that we would be a communities of people who understand the grace and peace of the only one who can truly give grace and bring peace. And that as we receive that grace, peace and the hope and salvation that comes with it, we would proclaim it boldly to a world longing for hope – knowing that it is God who works to make our best efforts successful and our worst efforts redemptive.

Amen

... a prayer offered by Todd Hiestand on his blog

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be still

"Be still, and know that I am God..."

(Psalm 46:10)

God desires for us to be still sometimes. He is desiring for us to get our focus on Him and sit at His Feet and just listen. Too many times we come to Him in prayer with everything all figured out for Him. We have it all organized in our minds and we let Him know just how to fix our problems. But the truth is that the only one who can fix our problems is God. And He knows the perfect way to handle those things that trouble us or assail. us. If we would just take the time to get still before our Creator and allow Him to begin speaking to our hearts and souls, He will lead us beside the still waters, calm our spirits and guide us on the right path. And the beautiful part is that He will walk beside us every step of the way. Our God is so good.

Amen

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Prayer of St. Brendan

Help me to journey beyond the familiar

and into the unknown.

Give me the faith to leave old ways

and break fresh ground with You.

Christ of the mysteries, I trust You

to be stronger than each storm within me.

I will trust in the darkness and know

that my times, even now, are in Your hand.

Tune my spirit to the music of heaven,

and somehow, make my obedience count for You.

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LETTING GO

"...let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trip us up. And let us run with endurance the race God ha set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.... Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)

Dear Lord, I MUST let go of ME and accept the LORDSHIP of Christ. Letting go is hard, but Oh, the benefits of letting the Lord be in charge of my life is the only way to live the abundant life. Lord, please help me on a daily basis to LET GO of ME. I love your Lordship in my life, it brings me comfort and peace. Amen

"And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as YOUR LORD, you MUST continue to follow him. Let your roots grown down in HIM, and let your lives be built on HIM. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness." (NLT)

Amen

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Troubles

Isaiah 40:27 (NLT)
O Jacob, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles?

Father, like Jacob there have been times when I thought You don’t understand, or know, or see, or hear, or care about my troubles? I remember driving down the freeway in Los Angeles several years ago feeling more than alone, maybe forgotten and even that life didn’t matter. It was a dark, disturbing, depressing time and I remember thinking I don’t care….then… I glanced at a Church tower on which the words were printed in large letters: “He Cares About You.” And everything changed because at that ever so brief moment in my heart, I knew You knew and cared and said so in a way I will never forget.

Thank you Father that there is never a time, a place, or an experience through which I pass that is unknown to You. And not only do you know but even greater You are with me as my ever present help. So Father I thank You for the truth of 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” And this precious promise is beautifully expressed in the song You gave Audrey Meier “It Matters to Him about You.”

Although God has millions of souls to see about
Although the sun, the moon, the stars are in his care
How wonderful to know wherever you may go
He can be reached just by a whispered prayer.

It matters to him about you
Your heartaches your sorrow he shares
Regardless of what you may do
He wants you He loves you, he cares
Oh yes, it matters to him about you
Believe it because it is true
Cling to his hand, He'll understand
For it matters to Him about you.

Amen

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Reformation Day Prayer

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

...a prayer of Martin Luther

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Almighty and everlasting God,

Increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity;

and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

From Scot McKnight

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Nehemiah tells us "The Joy of the Lord is our Strength..."

Dear Lord, there are many things in life we cannot choose. Our circumstances, the weather, health issues, family members, but we do have the choice of how we handle the things we have no control over. You have told us Your grace is sufficient for whatever comes out way. Lord let the Joy of knowing you be my strength, and help me to handle the difficult things in life that I have no control over, with grace and joy. Your JOY. I love you. Amen

Amen

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DANCING

Psalm 30:11 (NLT)
“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing”.

Father, happy feet are a wonderful expression of the exuberance You give us in life. It is hope jumping for joy. It is laughter filling the air. It is love bubbling over with barely restrained enthusiasm. There is a time to dance and probably more often that we think. In fact if we danced more we would probably be less depressed.

So today I will dance. Dance with the joy of a forgiven heart. Dance with the appreciation of a wonderful family and faithful friends. Dance with the assurance that when the music ends heaven waits, where there will still be more dancing. Yes, dance, dance, dance for all the grace and mercy You shower on us every day. There will be times of mourning, but not today. Today I will dance!

Amen

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