The Church Prays for the Nation- 7/8/21

1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

Psalm 42:1-7

Questions for Reflection:

What are the symptoms that reveal your soul is thirsty for God?

In what way is asking your soul questions like, "Why are you downcast?" helpful?

What are the things that keep you in the "shallows" instead of allowing the deep of God speak into the deep of you?

Prayer of the Week:

Almighty God and Father, as we celebrate this week of the 4th of July we recognize that You have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember Your generosity and constantly do Your will.

Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life.

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action.

Grant that we, who came from many nations with many different languages, may become a united people.

Support us in defending our liberties, and give those to whom we have entrusted the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, may our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times do not let our trust in You fail.

Lord, keep this nation under Your care.

Bless the leaders of our land that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of the earth.

Grant that we may choose trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and serve You faithfully in our generation.

As we move into the second half of the summer lead us as individuals, families and a church to hear and respond to Your gracious call on our souls, “Come to Me ... and I will give you rest”. Help us respond to that gracious call with this simple request from our hearts, “Restore my soul, Jesus, Restore my soul.”

Amen

The Church Prays for the Nation- 7/7/21

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

Peter 2:11-17

Questions for Reflection:

What do you think about being called a foreigner? What does that tell you about how that forms our identity as Christians?

Do you think that submission to authority is something that you do easily or with difficulty? Why do you think Peter tells us to submit to authority? What is the context of our submission?

When can freedom be a cover up for evil? Have you ever used freedom as a cover up for evil? What does it mean to you to be a slave to God?

Prayer of the Week:

Almighty God and Father, as we celebrate this week of the 4th of July we recognize that You have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember Your generosity and constantly do Your will.

Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life.

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action.

Grant that we, who came from many nations with many different languages, may become a united people.

Support us in defending our liberties, and give those to whom we have entrusted the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, may our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times do not let our trust in You fail.

Lord, keep this nation under Your care.

Bless the leaders of our land that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of the earth.

Grant that we may choose trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and serve You faithfully in our generation.

As we move into the second half of the summer lead us as individuals, families and a church to hear and respond to Your gracious call on our souls, “Come to Me ... and I will give you rest”. Help us respond to that gracious call with this simple request from our hearts, “Restore my soul, Jesus, Restore my soul.”

Amen

The Church Prays for the Nation- 7/6/21

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Matthew 22: 15-22

Questions for Reflection:

As you allow yourself to observe how Jesus interacts with these Pharisees, what about Him impresses you?

How do Jesus' words help us in being good citizens even though the governing authorities may be plagued with ungodliness?

How is knowing you are God's "image bearer" in the world, helpful in the "posture of your heart" today?

Prayer of the Week:

Almighty God and Father, as we celebrate this week of the 4th of July we recognize that You have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember Your generosity and constantly do Your will.

Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life.

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action.

Grant that we, who came from many nations with many different languages, may become a united people.

Support us in defending our liberties, and give those to whom we have entrusted the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, may our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times do not let our trust in You fail.

Lord, keep this nation under Your care.

Bless the leaders of our land that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of the earth.

Grant that we may choose trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and serve You faithfully in our generation.

As we move into the second half of the summer lead us as individuals, families and a church to hear and respond to Your gracious call on our souls, “Come to Me ... and I will give you rest”. Help us respond to that gracious call with this simple request from our hearts, “Restore my soul, Jesus, Restore my soul.”

Amen

The Church Prays for the Nation- 7/5/21

1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.

Timothy 2:1-6

Questions for Reflection:

Think through your week. What are you thankful for today? Try and notice how God is providing for you not just in the big ways but also in the little ways.

How would you define "peaceful and quiet lives?" What attributes or characteristics come to mind for you?

Have you ever found yourself putting hope in something that cannot handle that hope? Are you doing that now?

Prayer of the Week:

Almighty God and Father, as we celebrate this week of the 4th of July we recognize that You have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember Your generosity and constantly do Your will.

Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life.

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action.

Grant that we, who came from many nations with many different languages, may become a united people.

Support us in defending our liberties, and give those to whom we have entrusted the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, may our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times do not let our trust in You fail.

Lord, keep this nation under Your care.

Bless the leaders of our land that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of the earth.

Grant that we may choose trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and serve You faithfully in our generation.

As we move into the second half of the summer lead us as individuals, families and a church to hear and respond to Your gracious call on our souls, “Come to Me ... and I will give you rest”. Help us respond to that gracious call with this simple request from our hearts, “Restore my soul, Jesus, Restore my soul.”

Amen

Praying that Matters- 7/3/21

1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—

8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:1,2,8-14

Questions for Reflection:

How do you know when your heart and your soul are fragmented - not quite whole - bouncing around giving attention to multiple entities simultaneously?

Reflect on how hard it is to absorb anything or anyone deeply when you are distracted/fragmented.

How does it feel to listen quietly to this Psalm and "absorb" deep in your being what God has for you today - deep loving compassion? Let it sink deeply!

Prayer of the Week:

(In the audio version we reread the Psalm for the prayer but here is the weekly prayer printed for you to pray as well.)

Heavenly Father, You are my true Father, who loves me very much. I love you, I trust You, I worship You and step by faith into my true identity as Your lavishly loved child – the identity given to me in my baptism.

Father I join forces with Your entire family praying “Hallowed be Your name on earth as it is in heaven.”

“Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” “You Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

(Pause and strategically pray these three petitions over the real life situations you are facing. You are calling in the coordinates asking Him to act.)

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Give us this day our daily bread”. I recognize and ask for your care and provision for all of my physical needs from finances to food, a warm bed to a running car, medical care to retirement income …. It is all from your hand. Thank you. In praying I surrender my needs to Your care and I surrender my sometimes incessant need to worry about all these things. Help me trust You Father.

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us”. Father you are leading me to recognize my deep need for Your forgiveness. Forgive me of my every sin, Father. (Confess any specific sin burdens that today weigh on your heart.) I receive Your complete and total forgiveness. Lead me now Father as I recall any grudges, retribution or unforgiveness harboring in me against those who have sinned against me. I now surrender this all to You and make the decision to “let it go … into Your hands” … to forgive.

Help me Father to live forgiven and forgiving.

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Lead us not (only) into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”.

Father help us recognize and follow Your leading as we contend for Your Kingdom in this war zone of a world. Even more, Deliver us from the evil one. Jesus, You are the only one who is completely victorious over evil and we go forward this day facing whatever evil may come in the power of Your name. Deliver us from evil Father, deliver us.

Father, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for calling me to be a contender for You and Your kingdom as I live the meaningful life You intend today.

Amen

Praying that Matters- 7/2/21

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11

Questions for Reflection:

Where are some areas of vulnerability in your spiritual armor that you need to be more alert about? Simply pray “Father, bring your Kingdom rule over____________”

What anxious thoughts do you have today that you can surrender and cast onto God? Pray “Father, I cast this anxiety onto you:_______”

Prayer of the Week:

Heavenly Father, You are my true Father, who loves me very much. I love you, I trust You, I worship You and step by faith into my true identity as Your lavishly loved child – the identity given to me in my baptism.

Father I join forces with Your entire family praying “Hallowed be Your name on earth as it is in heaven.”

“Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” “You Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

(Pause and strategically pray these three petitions over the real life situations you are facing. You are calling in the coordinates asking Him to act.)

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Give us this day our daily bread”. I recognize and ask for your care and provision for all of my physical needs from finances to food, a warm bed to a running car, medical care to retirement income …. It is all from your hand. Thank you. In praying I surrender my needs to Your care and I surrender my sometimes incessant need to worry about all these things. Help me trust You Father.

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us”. Father you are leading me to recognize my deep need for Your forgiveness. Forgive me of my every sin, Father. (Confess any specific sin burdens that today weigh on your heart.) I receive Your complete and total forgiveness. Lead me now Father as I recall any grudges, retribution or unforgiveness harboring in me against those who have sinned against me. I now surrender this all to You and make the decision to “let it go … into Your hands” … to forgive.

Help me Father to live forgiven and forgiving.

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Lead us not (only) into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”.

Father help us recognize and follow Your leading as we contend for Your Kingdom in this war zone of a world. Even more, Deliver us from the evil one. Jesus, You are the only one who is completely victorious over evil and we go forward this day facing whatever evil may come in the power of Your name. Deliver us from evil Father, deliver us.

Father, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for calling me to be a contender for You and Your kingdom as I live the meaningful life You intend today.

Amen

Praying that Matters- 7/1/21

11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:11-15

Questions for Reflection:

What would you say marks the difference between "Jesus-y forgiveness" and "Flesh-y forgiveness?"

Have you experienced self sacrificing forgiveness from another brother or sister in Christ? How did that impact you?

Is there anyone in your life currently that you need to forgive? How can you tap into some Holy Spirit "able-to-do-ness" to do that?

Prayer of the Week:

Heavenly Father, You are my true Father, who loves me very much. I love you, I trust You, I worship You and step by faith into my true identity as Your lavishly loved child – the identity given to me in my baptism.

Father I join forces with Your entire family praying “Hallowed be Your name on earth as it is in heaven.”

“Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” “You Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

(Pause and strategically pray these three petitions over the real life situations you are facing. You are calling in the coordinates asking Him to act.)

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Give us this day our daily bread”. I recognize and ask for your care and provision for all of my physical needs from finances to food, a warm bed to a running car, medical care to retirement income …. It is all from your hand. Thank you. In praying I surrender my needs to Your care and I surrender my sometimes incessant need to worry about all these things. Help me trust You Father.

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us”. Father you are leading me to recognize my deep need for Your forgiveness. Forgive me of my every sin, Father. (Confess any specific sin burdens that today weigh on your heart.) I receive Your complete and total forgiveness. Lead me now Father as I recall any grudges, retribution or unforgiveness harboring in me against those who have sinned against me. I now surrender this all to You and make the decision to “let it go … into Your hands” … to forgive.

Help me Father to live forgiven and forgiving.

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Lead us not (only) into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”.

Father help us recognize and follow Your leading as we contend for Your Kingdom in this war zone of a world. Even more, Deliver us from the evil one. Jesus, You are the only one who is completely victorious over evil and we go forward this day facing whatever evil may come in the power of Your name. Deliver us from evil Father, deliver us.

Father, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for calling me to be a contender for You and Your kingdom as I live the meaningful life You intend today.

Amen

Praying that Matters- 6/30/21

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Matthew 18:21-35

Questions for Reflection:

Consider:

-how much time and energy do you spend re-hashing and reliving; or self-condemning; or doubting God’s forgiveness for things from your past?

-how much time and energy do you spend withholding forgiveness or holding grudges against others or even just thinking about them?

-how much time and energy do you spend being offended by others in your life; or being offended by social media comments from people you don’t even know?

What if the time and energy spent in all of these ways was gone or reduced, and there was now more time and energy and freedom to notice others, listen to others, love others, and be available to be deployed as God’s special forces to contend for His Kingdom?

Prayer of the Week:

Heavenly Father, You are my true Father, who loves me very much. I love you, I trust You, I worship You and step by faith into my true identity as Your lavishly loved child – the identity given to me in my baptism.

Father I join forces with Your entire family praying “Hallowed be Your name on earth as it is in heaven.”

“Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” “You Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

(Pause and strategically pray these three petitions over the real life situations you are facing. You are calling in the coordinates asking Him to act.)

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Give us this day our daily bread”. I recognize and ask for your care and provision for all of my physical needs from finances to food, a warm bed to a running car, medical care to retirement income …. It is all from your hand. Thank you. In praying I surrender my needs to Your care and I surrender my sometimes incessant need to worry about all these things. Help me trust You Father.

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us”. Father you are leading me to recognize my deep need for Your forgiveness. Forgive me of my every sin, Father. (Confess any specific sin burdens that today weigh on your heart.) I receive Your complete and total forgiveness. Lead me now Father as I recall any grudges, retribution or unforgiveness harboring in me against those who have sinned against me. I now surrender this all to You and make the decision to “let it go … into Your hands” … to forgive.

Help me Father to live forgiven and forgiving.

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Lead us not (only) into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”.

Father help us recognize and follow Your leading as we contend for Your Kingdom in this war zone of a world. Even more, Deliver us from the evil one. Jesus, You are the only one who is completely victorious over evil and we go forward this day facing whatever evil may come in the power of Your name. Deliver us from evil Father, deliver us.

Father, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for calling me to be a contender for You and Your kingdom as I live the meaningful life You intend today.

Amen