Sunday Praise and a Prayer for Comfort

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

 

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise you.  We praise you that you are at once righteous and compassionate.  That you are holy and yet you draw near to us, and draw us near to you so that you may stand with us in our trials, identify with us in our pain, and comfort us in our suffering.

Thank you for the peace your comfort brings our hearts, the courage it gives us to walk in the midst of our trouble another day, and the compassion it fills our own hearts with for others who are suffering, too.

Lord, as you lay hurting or struggling people on hearts, or bring them into the scope of our lives, may you continue to fill our hearts with your grace and compassion and the boldness to step out in faith and comfort them with the comfort you’ve given us. May your love anoint our hearts with mercy and may we have deep and tender love for one another.

Help us continue to abide in you – never letting go for one second – so that you are glorified as the comfort you give us and that we share with one another is a bright light in the middle of a dark world. May our lives, as your Spirit flows through us, magnify your name and draw others to you.  In the precious name of Jesus, the Savior of the world, amen.

Sunday Praise and a Prayer for the Spirit

 

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9

 

Heavenly Father, we praise you. Thank you for calling us out of the darkness and, through your Son, adopting us as your own dearly loved children. And then you called us, as brothers and sisters, into a sacred life to carry out your will, to show the world your light and your love. Father, give us continued passion for living and breathing and walking in your Spirit, that we would never be tempted to live out this calling of a spiritual life in our own strength.  We are called to think differently, act differently, and speak differently than the world and it’s only by your Spirit that we can do that with truth and integrity. Search our hearts and show us where we need to get right with you through repentance and obedience, and help us to do that. And then we pray your Spirit will fill us to overflowing with so much love and light and boldness of the good news that countless people will hear your calling, turn to you, fall to their knees in repentance, receive your forgiveness, and join us as your chosen ones.  Father, our world desperately needs you, and we ask for a renewal of your Spirit within and upon all of us and for a revival of your salvation throughout the world.  In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen.

Sunday Praise and a Prayer for Victory

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. Ephesians 1:3-6

 

Heavenly Father, we praise you.  You know that many of us were not chosen in the world for much of anything.  You know that we were, and are, the neglected, rejected, and outcast. But you have chosen us.  You, the Creator of all the universe, the originator of all things, the LORD Almighty, the Beginning and the End, has chosen those the world deems as foolish and weak to bear your holy name.  You saw us and loved us, and drew us to yourself so that you could pour on us the greatest blessing of all – to receive the life of your Son, and be made holy and blameless.  You have made us the proof of your glory, and we are overwhelmed with gratefulness.  May we live every minute of every day in the victory you bought for us through the sacrifice of your Son.  May we walk in your glorious light, and never give the enemy a foothold.  Please keep us from falling into sin, so that our lives are an unbroken testimony of your glory.  And when we do stumble, help us to quickly repent, and receive your grace.  And Lord, please help us to freely give the love and grace and mercy and forgiveness that you have given us as an act of worship to you.  In Jesus’ holy and precious name we pray, amen.

Sunday Praise and a Prayer to Proclaim

Image result for ruth 4:14
 

 

Heavenly Father, we praise you.  Thank you for not only providing Ruth with a redeemer, but for giving us a Redeemer in your Son through her.  We pray you will give us boldness to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ and that He would become known in more and more hearts in our families, in our neighborhoods, at our places of business, throughout our country, and into the world. Lord Jesus, help us to continually seek you, to trust you, and hear from you so that our steps our led by you with wisdom and grace.  When we face difficulties, help us proclaim your name. When we are blessed with success, help us proclaim your name. When we don’t understand, help us proclaim your name. In life and in death, help us to continually, boldly, faithfully proclaim the Name that is above all names, – Yeshua Hamashiach – Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One, our Savior and Redeemer. In His glorious name we pray, amen.

Sunday Praise and a Prayer of Trust

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

We praise you.  Thank you for lifting us up out of our sin and redeeming us for Yourself.  For being a fortress for us where we can safely live and rest in you, where we can know that no matter the storms that rage around us, you are our hiding place.  Thank you for making our hearts new and filling us with songs of praise, for you are praiseworthy.  Lord, we entrust ourselves to you to keep us from wandering, to keep us walking with you in the narrow places. You know our individual hearts, and you know how to love us, bless us, and mature us, each in our own unique way. Help us to not fight against what you’re doing in our hearts and lives, even when it’s painful. Show us people this week who we can extend the love and grace you’ve given us, that they would be encouraged to entrust themselves to you in all ways, too.  For your glory, and in Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.