Prayer February 2017.

Our gracious, heavenly, father.

We begin every Sunday night praising you, because you are the only God, the glory too radiant for us to see, the source of life, the commander of the earth, see and air, the King above all earthly politicians, the writer of history from beginning to end, the judge of every heart. Words are inadequate, brains are too small to think about you. Your love reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

Lord, you have saved us and called us to a holy life. A holy God, creating for himself a holy people, to speak your words and do your will and bring you glory. But that’s not the normal way of things. Each of us is born sinful, we’re all selfish, not one of us is worthy to be your child. Humanity is a mass rebellion agains you. And without you, we are broken, disfunctional, hurting others and ourselves, dying every day. We are sorry. Show us the enormity of our sin, so that we can understand the enormity of your forgiveness. Because, Lord, you saved us. You demonstrated your love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ Jesus died for us. Your son gave himself for us to redeem us from evil and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 

Strengthen us for the good works you have called us to do. Give us boldness to share the gospel, faithfulness to support gospel work around the world, generosity to help the poor. Help us to forgive others as we have been forgiven. Help us to trust you to provide for our needs every day. Comfort us in our grief, in our anxiety, in our loneliness, in our failures. Teach us to rely on you, listen to you, and love you. So that we will sing of YOUR strength, in the morning we will sing of YOUR LOVE, for you are our fortress, our refuge in times of trouble.

We bring before you SRE teachers in schools. We are thankful for the opportunity we have to talk about the bible in state schools, and we pray that little kids and young people will hear about Jesus, your love for them, and grow up to live for you. We ask that those who are fighting for an atheist, secular education system will not lie or distort the truth. And for us, to follow Paul’s example: When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We pray that SRE teachers in our church and other local churches will continue to serve through any attacks in the media, and trust you if they meet any personal opposition.

We pray for those serving us in leadership in our church. We pray for them to strive for careful and challenging bible teaching. We pray that their marriages and families are supportive, Christ-honouring and outward-looking. We pray for faithfulness in prayer, peace from the anxieties of leadership, and enthusiasm to grow others to maturity in Christ. 

We thank you for all the home groups who have started back for the year, for the youth coming to Fusion and The Vine this year, for the Next Step course for newcomers, and for the Life meetings which start Wednesday. Thankyou for people gathering to read your word, meet the Living God, challenge each other, and grow more like Jesus. 

We pray for our gospel partner in France, K. Thankyou that after time spent learning French she has prayerfully decided to join a church planting team planning to plant a new church in Cor-mey (Cormeilles) in Paris. Please use the gospel choir they have started to grow their contacts in the community. We ask that you provide Kelly with an apartment to rent in in the area.

We’ve heard about the conditions that oppress the church in Ethiopia. We pray that Christians under pressure from all sides would stand strong for Jesus. We pray for unity and peace amongst the denominations of Ethiopia, particularly between Orthodox Churches and protestant churches. And we ask your protection for Muslim Background Believers who are under immense pressure for their refusal to return to Islam.

Thank you for this weekly meeting, thank you for the opportunity to come together in friendship to remember all the reasons for the hope that we have. Please, in the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to listen to your word, and live it out in our lives. Thank you for hearing our prayers. In Jesus Name. Amen.