Daily Prayer: August 2014

LAME HANDS OF FAITH...

"I falter where I firmly trod,
And falling with my weight of cares
Upon the great world's altar-stairs
That slope thro' darkness up to God,
I stretch lame hands of faith, and grope.....

Dear Lord, I do not know the author of these pleading words, but I have many time felt this way when I try to pray and the weight of my cares take my words away, and the stairway to You seems dark ~ so I do stretch my lame hands of faith and grope for words to say. Then I remember that You said when my words won't come ~ the Holy Spirit groans my feeble words and shares my deepest heart with the Father. Thank you Lord. I love You. Amen.

Staircase from googleimages.com

Amen

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Persecution

Matthew 5:43-44 (HCSB)
⁴³“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Romans 12:14&17&19 (HCSB)
¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil.….¹⁹ Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.

Father I am distraught, disturbed and disquieted over the persecution of all people. The horrific reports and pictures of such inhumane suffering are overwhelming. My reaction is to do to them what they have so mercilessly done to the innocent and those of another faith.

However, Father you have called us and commanded us to be of another attitude toward the enemies of humanity and of yourself. You have called us to pursue peace, pray for our enemies and be patient for the sure coming of justice. Again you remind us: “Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay. In time their foot will slip, for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.” Deuteronomy 32:35 (HCSB)

Father you tell us that: “….government is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.” Romans 13:4 (HCSB)

I pray Father for the persecutors, as Saul of Tarsus was once, to see the truth of your Light, repent of their evil ways and trust in Jesus. Because I know your day of justice is coming and may it be soon for the sake of your suffering people.

And Father I am reminded to: “Remember …… those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:3 (NIV)

Amen

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Teach us, LORD

Amen

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God's Grace and Healing

Dear Lord ~ today I saw a miracle, and I want to thank you. A family member was facing stage 4 cancer, and with your love and grace and the skills you give doctors, and your will that our cousin is now cancer free and will have some more time on this earth with his family, we thank you.

We never know from day to day what it will bring. I want to thank you for a second miracle. Our dear friend that had a stroke a couple of weeks ago, went home today. His complete recovery will take some time, but you are with him every step of the way.
Our hearts are full of thankfulness today for answers to our prayers for these two.

Lord be with all those who have loved ones fighting cancer, strokes and all kinds of sickness. Bring comfort and healing. I love you. Amen.

Amen

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Father, we lift up to you those who are feeling the weight of depression, those who feel as if they have no one to turn to. Be their strength. Encourage them with your grace and love. Bring them the help they need and restore them. Amen

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LET ME STAND ~

Dear Lord ~ Let me stand today ~
for whatever is pure and true and just and good.
for the right of the weak and the oppressed.

Today O Lord ~
let me put right before interest.
let me put others before self.
let me put things of the spirit before the things of the flesh.
let me put principle above reputation.
let me put Thee before all else.

Give me a heart like Jesus Christ ~ a brave heart, a true heart, a tender heart, a heart with a great room in it, a heart fixed on Thyself, for your name's sake. Amen.

~A Diary of Private Prayer ~ John Baillee

Amen

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First Love

Ephesians 1:15 (NLT)
Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere,

Revelation 2:4 (NLT)
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!

Father how is it that in a mere 35 years there could be such a change from when Paul wrote to the Ephesian Church of “your love for God’s people” to the startling words of Jesus to the same Church “You don’t love me or each other as you did….!” How could such a heart on fire for Jesus become the ashes of indifference and worse, a cold heart?

Yet, did not Jesus warn us: “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:12 (NLT)

Father I pray that none of us will ever be part of the many who have forgotten and forsaken the ecstasy of our first experience of your love for us and our love for you. This love does not grow old or cold in hearts that are stirred with fire of your presence. It is the love spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT) “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

Loving Father help us to so love You and each other!!!

Amen

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Revive what has died in me ...

Dear God,

Enlighten what is dark in me.
Strengthen what is weak in me.
Mend what is broken in me.
Bind what is bruised in me.
Heal what I sick in me.

And lastly, revive whatever peace and love has died in me.

Amen.

...copied from Facebook.

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Bread of Life

Jesus, you are the bread of life. Everything we need is in you. Help us to seek you, rather than the things of this world that don't bring life. Amen

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THE WIND OF YOUR SPIRIT

Almighty God, send the wind of Your Spirit to blow across the embers of my heart. Stir up the fire of faith and re-ignite my passion for holiness. Kindle within me a desire to use the spiritual gifts You have given me for the good of Your kingdom. May Your Spirit shine forth in power. May that power be governed by self-discipline, and may all I do be done in the love of God. I love You. Amen.

Amen

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PEACE

Psalm 122:6-8 (NLT)
⁶ Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.⁷ O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. ⁸ For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “May you have peace.”

Father from this passage it seems like world peace begins in and with Jerusalem. It is almost stunning how such a small piece of the world’s geography can so epitomize the global struggle for peace. War is such a part of inward conflict and outward confrontation. Throughout history it appears the human race has learned little about how to live in peace.

Yet, Jesus, you remind us of where true peace comes from and it’s transforming power. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 (NLT)

And again Father your word reminds us that the “…… experience God’s peace, …...exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NLT)

Thank you Father for your peace that settles our hearts in an unsettled world, and for its’ calming influence on our minds in times of uncertainty.

Amen

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spread the gospel

Lord, give us hearts to desire to spread the gospel of Your Good News! Help us to see the great commission that God gave us in His Word over and over. Let us be eager to go and tell. Let us be eager to tell others about what God has done for us! Lord, give us an unction to be your hands and feet in this world and tell everyone we meet about Christ. Give us willing hearts and boldness to speak to a world that needs a Savior so desperately.

"Here am I; send me...." (Isaiah 6:8b)

Amen

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Teach me to be generous ...

Lord,
teach me to be generous,
to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to look for any reward,
save that of knowing that I do your holy will.
Amen

... a prayer of Ignatius of Loyola

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Father, as you have loved us, let us love others. As you have shown us mercy, let us be merciful. As you give us grace, let us extend grace to those around us. Amen

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Dear Lord ~ we are but earthen vessels. Common and flawed, but You chose to use us to spread the Gospel and Your love. As we begin a new month, and celebrate communion, help us to be willing vessels in your hands, and share that forgiveness is available to all who will come to the cross an accept your gift of salvation. We remember your sacrifice today, and lift grateful hearts and hands. We love You. Amen.

Amen

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God Bless America!

2 Chronicles 1:11 (NLT)
“God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people—“

Father it would be so wonderful to have governmental leaders whose hearts are truly motivated by a passion desperate to benefit the people they are elected to serve. And for them to yearn for practical know how in the daily administrating of public affairs.

I am reminded Father “The government is God's servant working for your good.” Romans 13:4 (GW)

Father I pray for all of our public servants for your wisdom to guide them, your mercy to forgive them, your grace to humble them and your love to help them value the lofty position of being servants of God and of the people. That would be a government our forefathers envisioned and we pray for today. It would be a government Father that truly pleases you and serves your purpose.

God Bless America with such Servant/Leaders!

Amen

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