Daily Prayer: August 2021

PRAYER FOR RIGHT LIVING

Proverbs 1:1-7 "The Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel! ...for attaining wisdom and discipline, for understanding words of insight, for acquiring a discipline and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young ~~Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance ~~for understanding proverbs and parables, the saying and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools dispise wisdom and discipline."

Wonderful Counselor, You have provided simple guidelines for every demension of our lives ~~principles that bring peace, justice and good sense to everything we do. Thank You for being aware of the ordinary aspects of our earthly existence ~~the buying and selling, the winning and losing, the joys and sorrows. You are a Father Who advises His children carefully and kindly. Help us always to put You first and to seek Your will instead of our own. I love You. Amen!

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Praying for Peace

"the City of God" Psalm 46:4

Psalm 122:6-7 (NLT)

"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 you have chosen in your wisdom and will to place your name, dwelling and center of worship in Jerusalem, "the City of God" Psalm 46:4. It is remarkable how over the centuries it has been invaded, destroyed and seemingly eliminated from the nations. Yet, you have brought Jerusalem back to life, meaning and purpose again. What a glorious future awaits Her.

So I pray Father for "the Peace of Jerusalem" knowing that in your time you will bring to fulfillment all the prophecies spoken of "Jerusalem, the holy city." Nehemiah 11:1 (NLT)

I also pray for peace in our war stricken world knowing that someday there will be peace on earth and good will to all her inhabitants.

Isaiah 62:1 (NLT)

"Because I love Zion, I will not keep still. Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her....."

In the name of Jesus who is our Savior and King and coming Prince of Peace. Amen.

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when we do not know how to pray

Lord, I do not know what I ought to be asking of you. You are the only One who knows what I need. You love me better than I know how to love myself.

O Father! – give your child what I do not know how to ask for myself. I do not dare ask for crosses or consolation. All I can do is present myself to you.

Lord, I open up my heart to you. Behold my needs – the ones that I am not even aware of. Look at them, and act according to your mercy.

Bring suffering on me or heal me, cast me down or raise me up – I adore your will for me even when I do not know what it is.

I will remain silent, offering myself up and giving myself over completely to you. I no longer have any desire other than to accomplish your will.

Teach me to pray; may you yourself pray in me and through me. Amen

-prayer of François Fénelon (1651-1715)

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prayer in the aftermath

O Holy One, you who have given us life, and breath, and being, and you who have sustained our lives with the gift of your comforting and mighty presence, we give thanks that the storms have now passed.

We now find ourselves in the beginning of recovery and in the middle of a mess of destruction, devastation, and distress. We grieve with the families of people who have lost life to the storms. We pray for your abiding comfort and light of hope in this murky darkness of traumatic grief.

We pray for those who have had to evacuate, leaving house and home, who are returning to access the damage. We pray for those who return with the assurance of insurance for both property and health, and we pray especially for those who return with no guarantees of their previous life including property and health. We recognize that our system is set up to help most, those who need least, and set down to help least those who need most. Give us power and will to change the system we have helped create into a system that more closely resembles one You might create.

We pray for efficient and effective management of volunteer organizations and first responders ready to help and for the countless volunteers and all who give themselves, their time, their life, and their heart to recovery. May we give ourselves not only to recovery from hurricanes and other storms, but to recovery from the relentless storm that never stops for those living in poverty.

Finally, O Holy One, we pray for the courage to amend our ways that lead to unnecessary destruction, devastation, and distress due to our impact on this earth by our dragging response to the climate we ourselves are changing.

Amen.

-adapted from a prayer by Rev. Nathan King

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Prayer for all in need

Amen

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a prayer in times of conflict

Heavenly Father,

When the gentleness between us hardens, and we fall out of our belonging with one another, Lord, may You bring us back to the depth of love we have once had with one another. May the bond You once forged between us be fused back together by the power of Your love.

When our words are not enough, and we struggle to hear each other well, when our hurt feels like too much and the silence has become deafening, Lord may you bring the sweet tone of reconciliation into our hearts once again.

When the bonds between us unravel, and our angers tears us apart, Lord we ask that bitterness not take root, but that your truth keep us rooted instead.

Teach us to be gracious with one another, to allow kindness beyond thought and hurt.

Humble us in our pride and show us that relationships matter more than being right.

And Lord, if the relationships is not right, may You show us boundaries that heal and keep us safe from those who have harmed us. Help us discern when those who've hurt have not turned from their ways and will damage us again.

Guide us through the winter of pain into the gentleness of spring.

Amen

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WHEN SILENCE IS GOLDEN

Job 2:13 "Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words."

Heavenly Father, sometimes the hurt of suffering and loss is too painfull for words. Gracious Father, teach us when to give comfort and words of encouragement to those grieving deeply and when to just be silent and stay near in our silence.

Lord, to all those who are deeply grieving due to suffering or loss this day, please wrap your loving arms around them so they can feel your silent love and presence. I love You. Amen.

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The Wonder of Fellowship

".....our fellowship is with the Father...." I John 1:3 (ESV)

".... the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Cor. 1:9 (ESV)

"....the fellowship of the Holy Spirit...." 2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV)

"....they devoted themselves to fellowship...." Acts 2:42 (ESV)

Thank you Father for the wonder and privilege of fellowship with the Triune God and the fellowship of the Church. How joyful and peaceful is this intimate and personal relationship. It is a taste of heaven's glorious future and an ever present encouragement of that blessed hope and reality.

Father for this reason you created us, redeemed us and through the sacrifice of your Son and our faith in Him made this unity of loving fellowship possible.

1 John 1:7 (NLT)

7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Father may we ever be sensitive to your presence in us and fellowship with us. This will certainly be an answer to Jesus' prayer and a witness to the world.

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:20-21 (NIV)

Amen.

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for wars to cease

When I consider the works of your hands,
I remember how you have moved in history.

I am comforted and I take heart by the ways
that you have moved in my life.

You bring peace and cause wars to cease.

You will bring our weapons to destruction.

In Jesus you have brought peace to the earth.

I rejoice that you have said:

“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Help me to be still. Help me to trust you.

My heart sings knowing that the eternal Lord of hosts is with me.

The God of forever is my defender and you will fight for me Father.

Holy Spirit have mercy on me.

Amen

- from Psalm 46

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for Afghanistan

Father,

We lift the people of Afghanistan up to you.
We pray that you would take hold of the situation.

We ask you to help them walk through this fearful time.

In days like these teach us all to trust and not fear.

In the weeks ahead help us to remember those overseas.

In the months ahead lead us to pray for peace and love.

Finally Lord, we ask that you would mold peace from chaos.

Create respect and honor where there is hatred and distrust.

Establish a new land where love conquers every enemy.

In the name of Jesus Christ we say amen and amen.

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His Timing

We don’t always understand the ways of God. We don’t always understand or agree with His timing.

But one thing we can be assured of is that His plan for each of our lives is the perfect plan.

He has a TIME and a PURPOSE for everyone and every thing. He knows the BEGINNING and the END. He knows each step that we take.

His time.

His ways.

His purpose.

We must keep our eyes on Him and keep our focus on the Word. And all things will be made beautiful in His time.

Amen

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Pray for Haiti

Father, have mercy on the people of Haiti. Please comfort those who have lost loved ones. Heal those who have been injured. Strengthen the ones who are searching for survivors and who are treating those affected. Rouse your church to give time and treasure to help. Amen

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UNDERSTANDING BRINGS JOY

Nehemiah 7:8,12

After Ezra and Nehemiah had rebuilt the walls and temple in Jerusalem after the exciles returned from captivity they assembled all the people. Ezra stood on a high wooden platform and read outloud the Book of the Law of Moses and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people to understand each passage. They celebrated with great joy because they and heard God's words and understood them.

Heavenly Father, how precious are Your Words, but without understanding their is no joy! When the people in this passage in Nehemiah heard the Words of God explained clearly they rejoiced with great joy and celebration. Oh Father, give us wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit so when we read and study Your Word it will be clear and understanding will bring joy and obedience. Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my way. I love You. Amen

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Good News

".....the gospel of your salvation, ..."

Ephesians 1:13 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 15:1 & 3-4 (ESV)

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, ....3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Thank you Father for your grace, the good news of forgiveness, that is our through faith in Christ. As the wonderful song express so well, it is "Marvelous Grace."

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)

4 "....God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— "

Father I pray that our world, overwhelmed by bad news, will have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to believe in this good news of your grace, salvation for all who will trust in Christ.

Amen.

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to increase your influence in us

Father we ask you to increase your influence in our lives.

Help us to factor you into every decision and action.

Bless us to know your presence and love others every day.

And speak to us of ways that we can encourage others.

That we maybe be able to strengthen our friends and family.

Amen

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grant us true contentment

Lord, grant us true contentment ...

Acceptance of what each day brings,

Joy in you and not in things,

Tranquility in storm or strife,

Serenity in all of life;

That when you whisper, ‘Peace, be still,’

We’ll wait upon your perfect will,

Knowing we will soon be blessed

By love that only wants our best.

Help us see that we are meant

To rest in you … and be content.

Amen

- a prayer from author BJ Hoff

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when we feel lost

Loving and Sure God,

We praise you that you do not change, that you are righteous, holy, and worthy of worship. We lift your name high, because you are the only true God! One who makes us feel sure when all else around us feels unsure.

There are so many times we feel lost, Father. We feel lost in the brokenness of the world, in the midst of our sin, or when people sin against us. We can feel lost and run right the things that overwhelm us rather than to you. We can feel stuck in all that is unsure. Help us to find the certainty in who you are, Lord. The surety of your plan for our lives, the certainty of your love. We know we cannot change the world to be a certain place, but help us to know that we can be sure of the One who never changes: you.

Guide us and lead us, O God, into your great love.

"...even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me." (Psalm 139:10)

Amen

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RISE AGAIN

Proverbs 24;15 "Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again."

Gracious Father, This scripture confirms we fall. We face trials, difficult circumstance. We fall. But we don't stay down because the Father is always there to offer comfort and strength and encourages us that even if we fall and fail time after time.....we rise! "I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13) Thanks You Father. I love You. Amen!

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Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (ESV)

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, ....17 comfort your hearts...."

Acts 9:31 (ESV)

."...the comfort of the Holy Spirit,"

2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)

"...comfort one another..."

Thank you Father for the encouragement of your comfort that sustains us in our afflictions. Thank you Father that you comfort us through the Son, by the Spirit and in the fellowship of caring Christians. Thank you Father that we have the privilege to comfort others with the mercy and comfort we experience from your grace and love. Thank you Father for this blessed promise: "This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life." Psalm 119:50 (ESV)

Through Jesus our Lord and Savior we express our sincere gratitude. Amen.

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the sweet release of tears

I am reminded Lord of the many times that I have cried as I have prayed. In deep grief and pain I have cried out to you.

In those times I remember sensing your presence in my life. It was as if my tears proclaimed a sweet release of my pain.

Help me Lord to find it in myself to not be afraid to cry and to cry out when life gets really hard. And know you are with me.

Amen

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trust him

Trust Him when thy wants are many;

Trust Him when thy friends are few;

And the time of swift temptation

Is the time to trust Him too.

Trust Him when thy soul is burdened

With the sense of all its sin;

He will speak the word of pardon,

He will make thee clean within.

Trust Him for the grace sufficient,

Ever equal to thy need;

Trust Him always for the answer,

When in His dear name you plead.

Trust Him for the grace to conquer,

He is able to subdue;

Trust Him for the power for service;

Trust Him for the blessing too.

Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,

Trust Him when thy strength is small,

Trust Him when to simply trust Him

Seems the hardest thing of all.

Trust Him; He is ever faithful;

Trust Him, for His will is best;

Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus

Is the only place of rest.

Trust Him, then, through cloud or sunshine,

All thy cares upon Him cast,

Till the storm of life is over,

And the trusting days are past.

Amen

-song lyrics by Lucy A. Bennett (1850-1927)

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Hope

Amen

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Mercy

Father, have mercy on us. We pray for deliverance from the virus and healing physically, emotionally, and relationally. Amen

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PRAISE THE LORD

Psalm 113:1-3

"Praise the Lord!

Praise, O servants of the Lord,

Praise the name of the Lord.

Let the name of the Lord be praised,

both now and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun

to the place wher it sets,

the name of the Lord is to be praised."

Heavenly Father, we are your childrlen, You are our Father. We praise You and lift Your Name on high! Day after day, with the rising of the sun and the cover of darkness at night, let our tongues never cease to praise Your Holy Name. We are so grateful to be Your children. Let the Name of the Lord be praised! I love You. Amen

Amen

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