First Week of Advent: Longing

Everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being: You have made us for yourself, so that our hearts are restless until they rest in you.

Augustine of Hippo

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COME LORD JESUS

Mark 13:26-37


Dear Lord, how I long for the day of Your coming!  As I watch and wait, help me to keep short accounts with You, to be sensitive to my sins or failures, to be immediate in confession and wholehearted in repentance, to receive Your cleansing and restoration with a joyful and worshiping heart.  Let me not be ashamed, but rather rejoice at our appearing.  Come soon Lord Jesus.   I love You.  Amen.



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A Prayer of the Apostle Paul for Us



Ephesians 3:16 (NLT)
     I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

Father what we need in our lives is the answer to what Paul prayed for other Christians, that is the unleashed, unhindered and unlimited strength that comes through the Holy Spirit. To be infused, empowered and enabled by the indwelling Holy Spirit is the greatest resource we could ever imagine or experience.

Then Father, verse 17  tells us the results of the Holy Spirit’s work in us: “17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” Ephesians 3:17-19 (NLT)

Father it is strength of soul we need, not just to endure, but to triumph in all of life’s circumstances. That is what the Holy Spirit does in us. So then Paul’s prayer will be answered for us as it was for them so long ago.

Amen

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Thanksgiving Prayers



Come, Lord Jesus, our guest to be
And bless these gifts bestowed by Thee.
And bless our loved ones everywhere,
And keep them in Your loving care.

          - traditional Moravian blessing


For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
We give you thanks O Lord.

          - Ralph Waldo Emerson (last line added)


Almighty and gracious Father,
we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season
and for the labors of those who harvest them.

Make us, we ask you, faithful stewards of your great bounty,
to supply our needs and to relieve those who are in need,
to the glory of your Name.

          - Adapted from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

Amen

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Prayer for Refugees

Father,

I pray for the refugees from Syria, those who are true refugees, people looking for a home. That You will take care of them, find them a home and a safe place to live and prosper, and that they may come to know You if they do not. I pray for those among them who intend harm, that their plans may be thwarted, that intended victims  will be protected from them, and that they may repent and turn to You. I pray for all those involved in dealing with the situation, that they may have compassion and caution in proper measure, to know how to best handle the problem.

 In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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Prayer of Thanks

Father, thank you for the many blessings you give us, from our daily bread and the air we breathe to the undeserved favor you show us each day. We thank you for the hard times you have brought us through and the things we have learned from them. Thank you that we can be sure you are a loving Father whose heart is good toward us and who gives us what is best. Amen.

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PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING



For the Passion and Death of your Divine Son
we thank you Father
through the Cross, He redeemed the world.
For the Church
we thank you Father
it is our beacon for salvation.

For the martyrs and saints who give testimony to your Son
we thank you Fathertheir witness to your Son is our inheritance.



For our loved ones and friends who have died and gone before us
we thank you Father
their love abides with us forever.

For loving spouses
we thank you Father
together we seek you.


For the gift of children
we thank you Father
they are your precious gifts to us and to the world.


For the gift of our families, loved ones and good friends
we thank you Father
Through them we see the reflection of your Son.

For jobs, our homes and all that we have
we thank you Father
give us only that which we need, as we seek Your Kingdom.
Amen.

Prayer and image from googleimages.com

Amen

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Waiting for Christs' Return




Titus 2:11-13 (NLT)
     For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

 

Father we look forward to the return of Christ based on his promise in John 14:3 (HCSB) “I will come back….” With the assurance of his promise You also have given us clear instructions as to how we should live in anticipation of that glorious event. We are to live with wisdom in our decisions, righteousness in our actions and devotion in our worship.

 
Father, such a life will sustain us in uncertain times and strengthen us with hope as we wait patiently and enthusiastically for Christs return.

 
Revelation 22:20 (NLT)
     He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

 
Amen

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His strength



LORD, our prayer today is that we will get this down into the very marrow of our bones! We will understand that nothing we accomplish is done on our own. Nothing that we are able to do is done without your strength working in us. It is only by the mighty and powerful Spirit of God working in us and through us. We draw our strength from Christ. We draw our ability from You, LORD. You empower us and enable us to do things we never thought possible. Thank you for filling us with the sweet Holy Spirit and for doing mighty wonders within us for Your glory...

Amen

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Trust in Troublesome Times

We live in times which seem to be full of hostility to the Christian faith. Sometimes it is difficult to trust God in the situations we encounter. Sometimes it is easy to react in anger rather than in the love God calls us to have, even for our enemies.

Father,

Help us to trust You even when times are difficult. Help us to love those who oppose us and not just react to them the way they act toward us. Help to properly represent You in these sitautions.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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Father, your image bearers are under attack from those who live from hatred. We pray for the families of those killed in the horrendous attacks of recent days. Please comfort them. Please heal those who were injured. Please give wisdom to government leaders, as they carry out their responsibility to punish evil doers and protect their people.

We also pray for those whose worship of a false god leads them to carry out these atrocities. Reveal yourself to them as the one true God, and turn them to faith in Christ. Open their eyes to the emptiness of their religion and to your truth, beauty, and goodness. Amen

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SATAN IN HUMAN SKIN



John 10:10 "The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy."

Dear Lord, with the horrible attacks on Paris by Isis, it only shows us once again that those Isis Terrorists are like Satan in human skin.  Their motive, desire and actions are to STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY.

But the rest of that verse Lord, tells us YOU have come to give us LIFE and to the fullest.  What a comforting promise.

Lord, we are so saddened at the senseless loss of innocent lives at the hands of these evil men who  worship a false God, and think that by killing innocent people they are pleasing him.

We fall on our knees and pray that some measure of peace and comfort can come to the families of those who died, and those that are wounded and in hospitals.

We love you and long for your return to set up Your Kingdom, but until then give us courage in the face of danger, and boldness to share your Gospel with anyone who will listen.  YOU are the only answer.  I love You.  Amen

Amen

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Pray for Paris




 
1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)
     I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people
(Paris). Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf…..”

Father I pray for the people of Paris, especially for those who have loved ones, family and friends that have either been killed or wounded by evil and wicked men. I pray for those who are now suffering and will for weeks, months and perhaps years to come.

Father may these hurting people experience your grace and peace that surpasses all understanding. May Your mercy sustain them as they struggle with questions that have no answer this side of heaven. May You, the God of all comfort, bring healing and hope to all in the despair and pain of broken hearts.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT)
     Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

Through Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Amen

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Prayer for a Great Awakening

Dear God,

How mighty are your works in all the earth!

I want to thank you for the times you have made your presence felt in a mighty way.

Please, move in our hearts and of mankind that we might seek you with all we are and that we might experience a mighty revival among believers and a great awakening among those who have yet to believe and accept you as their God.

I praise you, Lord, and want to bless you with my life. I love you always and forever!

Amen.
-a prayer offered by my niece Maria

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hope

We can pray in confidence. We can pray believing. We can pray trusting....

Because our HOPE is in Christ alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I will put my hope in God..."
Psalm 42:5

"...for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people..."
1 Timothy 4:10

Amen

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Building Christ's Church

Father,

I thank you that Christ is at work building His church. I thank you that He has given us, Your people, the privilege of being involved in that work. Help us not to be discouraged if things around us look bleak. Help us to trust You and stay at work doing the things You have led us to. Help us to remember that in the end You will triumph. Let us not  grow weary, but no matter how dark the situation looks, help us trust that You are still at work.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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Thanksgiving

Father, thank you for your goodness. Thank you that we can trust you to always do what is good and right. Thank you that your heart is always good toward us. Amen

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LIFE LONG LOVE




Dear Lord, two of your precious saints have joined you in heaven.  Alice first two months ago, and now last week Ray.  They had a life long love of 68 years of marriage and a life long love for You and your Word.  They are together again this morning in your presence.  

Lord, I think of my life long love with You.  I saw my need of a Savior when I was 10 and now at almost 75, I realize we have had a Life Long Love.  How I treasure it.  There have been battles to fight, and victories to win, and you have held me with your Almighty Strong Arm all these years.

How precious is the entrance of saints into your presence.  I long for that day too and until then want to live my life daily to bring Glory to You.  I love You.  Amen.


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Busy



Well, Father, it has been a busy day and looking forward to a busier, engaging and wonderful weekend of activity. Thank you for the health, energy, time and opportunity to share in the lives of family and friends.

Involvement is certainly an important aspect of joyful and meaningful living. I'll let you know how it goes. Of course, you will already know that, but the consideration is fun.

Don

Amen

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Wanting


I want to want Thee...
I long to be filled with more longing..
I thirst to be made more thirsty still.
(A.W. Tozer)

Lord, give us a longing to know you deeper. Give us hearts to never be satisfied with our relationship with you. Fill us with an aching hunger for your Word! 

Keep us eagerly in the Scriptures and delight us with powerful manifestations of who You are! Thank you, LORD, for loving us and for being faithful and true in all things!
Amen

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Evil Defeated

Father,

I thank You that Satan and his minions are defeated foes. I thank You that no matter how scary and how evil this world becomes, we can know that Christ is going to win. Help your people to live in the light of that. And help them to share with others that the darkness in the world now is not the final reality.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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