Categories
Prayer

A Prayer Honoring Marriage

Father, one of the greatest mysteries in the human experience is how You blend two individuals and make them become as one when they join as husband and wife.  The “me” becomes “us” in our shared interests and goals in life.  Things are no longer “mine” but “ours.”  Our times of celebration as well as times of sadness and loss become shared experiences. We honor marriage, recognizing the sacrifices and blessings that come to those who are joined in holy matrimony.  We also recognize that our archenemy, Satan, is intent on destroying the very foundation of marriage that You established from the beginning.  We uphold the institution of marriage as defined in Scripture and honor it when we speak of it and the way we live it out with our spouse.

Categories
Prayer

A Prayer To The All-Knowing God

Father, You created me with a set purpose in mind. As You search my heart, may You find it to be pure, undivided, and wholly true to You. I’m grateful for Your promise to guide and keep me secure no matter where I dwell. Father, what blessed assurance it brings to know that I can never move beyond Your compassionate care or loving favor. Not only do You grant me every breath on earth, but You will also help me conquer death. Because of these glorious provisions, I have blessed assurance now and blessed hope for my eternal future! Amen.

Categories
Prayer

A Prayer For Spiritual Stability

Father, we’re reminded by the words of Paul that we are to remain firm when the deluge of deceitful tactics from the enemy comes against us – through the media, books, false prophets and even well-meaning but confused individuals. Your Word is the stabilizing and authoritative manual for all that we need for life and godliness. You promise to bring maturity into our Christian walk as we firmly plant ourselves into the solid teaching of Your Holy Word. We apply Your teaching so that we will attain to the fullness of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone. Help us to be wise, studied, and firmly planted in Christ so that we will not be like children tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Categories
Prayer

A Prayer For Christ’s Preeminence

Jesus, anything good or praiseworthy in my life is simply a reflection of Your abiding presence in me.  Help me to grow in Your grace and knowledge so that I place more emphasis on Your kingdom than on my achievements.   The only true success in my ministry is when I point others to You and deflect anything that would center upon me.  I want to walk in humility today as I pray, “Jesus, You must become greater in my life, but I must become less.”   I ask You to be at the center of my thoughts, my attitudes, and in my conversations today. In the name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.

Categories
Prayer

A Prayer For Those Dealing With Hopelessness

Heavenly Father, when those aboard the ship in Acts 27 were looking at the gloomy forecast that appeared for many days their hopes diminished day by day. So often that’s what leads us to defeat; we fear the raging storm and the damage it will do, instead of looking to the One who controls the wind and waves. We consider those suffering as a result of Hurricane Sandy, reminding us that You are a God of the impossible, bringing hope in the midst of devastation, restoration in the midst of loss. We pray that there will be Christian believers who will bring the life-saving message of Jesus Christ to the hearts of the suffering and bring a message of hope, not based on what they see, but in the hope we have through the Holy Spirit as we trust in You. Amen.

Categories
Prayer

A Prayer For Those In The Storm

“A Prayer For Those In The Storm”

Father, You assure us time and again of Your compassionate love through Your Word, through fellow believers, through extraordinary intervention and whatever other means You ordain. You respond to our needs faithfully, but we confess that our doubts begin when Your voice is silent about particular ongoing needs we’re dealing with. In these instances we begin to wonder, do You really do care. But we desire to prove our faith to be genuine by trusting You even when we cannot see Your hand at work. Help us to persevere in prayer as we seek to understand Your overall plan in these troubling matters. And when we don’t understand Your plan help us to trust You when our faith is being tested, because faith that cannot be tested is faith that cannot be trusted. Amen.

Prayer for those in the path of Hurricane Sandy: Almighty God, we pray for Your wisdom, guidance, and protection over those in the path of this deadly hurricane. We ask You to enable rescue workers to find those who are in harm’s way and desperately need assistance. We thank You for those who are willing to lay down their lives, if need be, as they attempt to save others. We also pray for government officials as they receive news from weather officials and as they seek to lead their communities to safety. We pray for physical safety and bodily strength for the power workers who work around the clock to restore power to millions. May they be successful in their heroic endeavors. For those who have lost family, friends, or property in the midst of this devastating nor’easter we pray for Your mercy, peace, and the consoling presence of Your Holy Spirit to be a very present help in the midst of trouble. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Categories
Prayer

A Prayer for Hurricane Victims

Lord, you who calmed the storm at sea, quiet the fears, ease the pain, tend the grief, and light the darkness of your children. In stunned silence, be their voice In rages against the night, be their balm, In bewilderment, be their  hope. Lead rescuers to the lost,  shelter the waiting.  Sustain those who work to  make life’s necessities spring  forth in this desert of gloom, Blanket the weary with your tender touch. Shake us from our comforts to share our siblings sorrow and pray them into new life. We ask this in the name of Jesus who suffered.
Amen!

Categories
Prayer

A Prayer For Godly Discernment

Father, You have given to some the spiritual gift of discernment, and for others it’s the years of reading the Scriptures, listening to godly teaching and walking in obedience to You that discernment has characterized our faith journey. We want to be observant, understanding, and discerning about our times, so that we are prepared to do battle with the enemy and show others the way to eternal life. Amen.

Categories
Prayer

A Prayer For True Worshipers

Jesus, You teach us that our act of worship is not confined to a cathedral setting nor does it require professional ministerial training to carry out true worship.  It comes from the heart of the true believer who acknowledges that You are the long awaited Messiah, the One who is called Christ.  We worship You in Spirit, for though we cannot humanly see or touch You, we come to You in complete sincerity with a spirit that is directed by the life and activity of the Holy Spirit.   We worship You in truth because union with You requires believing and speaking the truth.  May we be the kind of worshipers that pleases the heart of the Father.  Amen.

Categories
Prayer

A Prayer For Encouragers

Father, much like Barnabas the encourager, we want to be uplifting to our brothers and sisters, our family members, and others we see from day to day. There are those who’ve left us with stinging reminders of their hurtful words often accompanied by painful actions. Gratefully, there are others who have brought us strength and encouragement through their words of affirmation, hope, challenge, and helpful instruction. They remained supportive of us when others gave up. Help us to be numbered among the encouragers as we live in these perilous days where confusion abounds and deceitfulness is rampant. May we encourage others not only by our words but also by our steady, consistent, Christian lifestyle. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.