Month: June 2022

Prayer for Fair Trial

As Job agonises over his situation,
his three friends explain that he
must be suffering because of
some terrible sin he committed.
They try to persuade Job to repent
of his sin. When Job argues that he
hasn’t sinned enough to deserve
such suffering his friends respond
with even harsher accusations.
Still refusing to admit the possibility
of an innocent man having to suffer,
Eliphaz begins round 3 of dialogue.

Lord, we will Keep to Your Way:
Then Job answered and said:
Even today my complaint is bitter…
Oh that I knew where I might
find Him… I would Present my
case before Him (Job 23:1-4).
But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tested me, I shall
Come Forth As Gold… I have Kept
His Way… I have not departed from
(His) commandment… I have treasured
the words of His mouth (v10-12).
Whatever He wants to do, He does.
He’ll Do for me all He has planned.
He Controls my destiny (v13-14).

Lord, You speak to Your people; but
sometimes, like in Job, You maintain
long silences and let us search for
You; and that can be uncomfortable.
For You are tuning our ears to Your
voice & teaching us to wait for You.
Lord, when I cannot really sense
Your presence or hear Your voice,
keep on drawing me towards You.
Give me the patience & persistence
to keep Seeking Your Face. Amen.

Lord, I praise Your faithfulness
and knowing the Way that I take.
Thank You that when I have been
tested, I will Come Forth As Gold.
It’s painful not to hear Your voice
and to wonder where You’ve gone.
Let me not waste the pain Lord;
instead use it to draw me closer
to You; for my eyes are fixed on You.
Show me Lord treasures of Your
Ways and Your kingdom. Amen.

Lord, You’re In Control of my destiny
and I fully trust in Your goodness.
Fill my vision with confident hope,
which clearly expresses Yr goodness.
You’ve given promises, both general
and specific and offered hope even
when I can’t see all the way ahead.
Help me walk in the good purposes
that You have planned for me. Amen.

Seeking God thru Biblical Prayers

The purpose of the book of Job is
to demonstrate God’s sovereignty
and the meaning of true faith.
It also addresses the question:
“Why do the righteous suffer?”
This week we see the importance of
Trusting All Knowing & Almighty God.
On Monday, we learn from Job 1/2
on Praising God in Tough Times.
On Tues, we learn from Job 7 on
Knowing Merciful God Is With Us.
On Wed, we learn from Job 16-19
on Trusting Our God In Control.
On Thursday, we learn from
Job 23 on Prayer for Fair Trial.
On Friday, we learn from Job 38
on Trusting God Know Best.
On Sat, we learn from Job 40/42
on Trusting the Almighty God.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face… In Jesus’ name.

Trust the Almighty God (Jun 11)

Instead of answering Job’s
questions directly, God asks Job
a series of questions that no human
can possibly answer. Job responds
by recognising God’s ways are best.
In response, Job humbles himself.
God rebukes the three friends for
adding to Job’s suffering by their
false assumptions and criticisms.
Job’s material possessions and
family are restored & he receives
even greater blessings than before.

Lord, we put our Trust in You:
The Lord said to Job: Do you still
want to argue with the Almighty?…
Then Job replied… I am nothing…
I have said too much already.
I have nothing more to say.
Then the Lord spoke to Job out
of the storm: Would you discredit
My justice? Would you condemn
Me to justify yourself? Do you
have an arm like God’s (Job 40:1-9)
Then Job replied to the Lord:
I know that You can do anything
and no one can stop You. You ask:
Who is this that questions My
wisdom with such ignorance?
It is I. And I was talking about
things I did not understand.
I take back everything I said
and I sit in dust and ashes to
show my repentance (Job 42:1-6)
When Job prayed for his friends,
the Lord restored his fortunes.
In fact, the Lord gave him twice
as much as before (v10-13).

Lord, Your answer to Job shows You
are in control & Only You Understand
why the good are allowed to suffer.
We realize Lord that regardless
of what we think is fair, You will
still do what You Know is best.
We confess we cannot question
Your fairness or ability to perform.
And we submit and give You Lord
the chance to reveal Your greater
purpose in Your way and time. Amen.

Lord, in our fallen world, suffering
may come to good and bad alike.
Knowing You are in control, we
will not question Your sovereignty.
Whilst we don’t know the reasons
for the trial, we Trust You God
with our unanswered questions
and turn to You for strength.
For those who Persist Trusting
God will be rewarded. Amen.

Lord, when Job was down and
nothing else was left, he still had
God and that was enough for him.
Help us Lord to courageously accept
what You allow to happen in our lives.
Help us to love You regardless
of whether You allow blessing
or suffering to come to our life.
Help us maintain a humble posture
and not question Your wisdom.
help us Put Our Trust in You. Amen

Trust God Knows Best

Instead of answering Job’s
questions directly, God asks
Job a series of questions that
no human can possibly answer.
Job humbles himself and responds
by recognising God’s ways are best.
God rebukes the three friends for
adding to Job’s suffering by their
false assumptions and criticisms.
Job’s material possessions and
family are restored & he receives
even greater blessings than before.

Lord,we’ll Not Question Your Wisdom:
Then the Lord answered Job:
Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?.. I have
some questions for you and you
must answer them (Job 38:1-3).
Where were you when I laid
the foundations of the earth?…
Do you know how its dimensions
were determined?.. Who defined
the boundaries of the sea (v4-8).
Have you… commanded the morning
to appear & caused the dawn to rise?
Where does the light come from and
where does the darkness go (v12,19).
Who sends the rain that…
makes the tender grass spring up? 
Where does the dew come from?..
Can you ensure the proper sequence
of the seasons?.. Do you know
the laws of the universe and
how God rules the earth? (v27-33).

Lord, just as we don’t understand
common working of God’s creation
under His control, it’s challenging
to understand God’s purposes.
And bitterness over suffering can
also limit understanding of Your ways.
Help us to trust You regardless
of whether You allow blessing
or suffering to come to our life.
For it is not our job to question
You the sovereign and good God,
but to simply worship You. Amen.

Lord, grateful that You are a
personal God and I can pour out
my hurts and frustrations to You.
But help me learn to question
Your works without criticising
Your wisdom. Anchor me in the
knowledge that You’re always good,
no matter how things may appear.
Your goodness may be obscured
due to my limited perspective.
So, help me Lord see & hear the
truth behind the scenes. Amen.

Lord, Hide me now Under Yr wings
Cover me Within your mighty hand.
When oceans rise & thunders roar
I will soar with U above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God.
Find rest my soul In Christ alone
Know his power In quietness & trust.
When oceans rise & thunders roar
I will soar with U above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I’ll be still & know U are God. Amen.

Prayer for Fair Trial (June 9)

As Job agonises over his situation,
his three friends explain that he
must be suffering because of
some terrible sin he committed.
They try to persuade Job to repent
of his sin. When Job argues that he
hasn’t sinned enough to deserve
such suffering his friends respond
with even harsher accusations.
Still refusing to admit the possibility
of an innocent man having to suffer,
Eliphaz begins round 3 of dialogue.

Lord, we will Keep to Your Way:
Then Job answered and said:
Even today my complaint is bitter…
Oh that I knew where I might
find Him… I would Present my
case before Him (Job 23:1-4).
But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tested me, I shall
Come Forth As Gold… I have Kept
His Way… I have not departed from
(His) commandment… I have treasured
the words of His mouth (v10-12).
Whatever He wants to do, He does.
He’ll Do for me all He has planned.
He Controls my destiny (v13-14).

Lord, You speak to Your people; but
sometimes, like in Job, You maintain
long silences and let us search for
You; and that can be uncomfortable.
For You are tuning our ears to Your
voice & teaching us to wait for You.
Lord, when I cannot really sense
Your presence or hear Your voice,
keep on drawing me towards You.
Give me the patience & persistence
to keep Seeking Your Face. Amen.

Lord, I praise Your faithfulness
and knowing the Way that I take.
Thank You that when I have been
tested, I will Come Forth As Gold.
It’s painful not to hear Your voice
and to wonder where You’ve gone.
Let me not waste the pain Lord;
instead use it to draw me closer
to You; for my eyes are fixed on You.
Show me Lord treasures of Your
Ways and Your kingdom. Amen.

Lord, You’re In Control of my destiny
and I fully trust in Your goodness.
Fill my vision with confident hope,
which clearly expresses Yr goodness.
You’ve given promises, both general
and specific and offered hope even
when I can’t see all the way ahead.
Help me walk in the good purposes
that You have planned for me. Amen.

Trust Our God In Control

Job agonises over his situation.
His three friends explain that he
must be suffering because of
some terrible sin he committed.
They try to persuade Job to repent
of his sin. When Job argues that he
hasn’t sinned enough to deserve
such suffering his friends respond
with even harsher accusations.

Lord, we’ll Put our Trust in You:
Then Job spoke: I have heard
all this before. What miserable
comforters you are! Won’t u ever
stop your flow of foolish words?
I could say the same things if
you were in my place. I could
spout off criticisms against you
…but that not what I would do.
I would speak in a way that
helps you. I would try to take
away your grief (Job 16:1-5).
Then Job spoke again: How long
will you torture me? You are
trying to use my humiliation as
evidence of my sin (Job 19:1-5).
For I know that my Redeemer Lives,
and He shall stand at last on the earth;
My flesh may be destroyed, yet from
this body I Will See God (v25-26)

Dear Lord, help us from the painful
experience of Job how to be a true
friend and Encouraging Comforter.
Lord, whilst we sometime cannot
understand troubles that befall us
we know You’ve awesome power,
and You are In Control of situation.
Help us never doubt You but
have unwavering faith like Job
that Our Redeemer Lives. Amen.

Lord, help me learn from the
painful experience of Job not
to sermonise, accuse, criticise,
or even talk for sake of talking to
someone who is in pain and grief.
Help me instead to put myself
 in the other person’s place,
offer help and encouragement,
  thereby Be A Comforter. Amen.

Lord, whilst sometimes just
like Job, we could not explain
troubles that beset us, we will
purpose not to forget You God.
Whatever happens, we like Job,
Trust You God Is In Control,
Trust You will never forsake us &
Trust You God in Your kairos time
will come as a redeemer. Amen.

Know Merciful God Is With Us

Job agonises over his situation.
His three friends explain that he
must be suffering because of
 some terrible sin he committed.
They try
to persuade Job to repent
 of his sin. When Job argues that he hasn’t
sinned enough to deserve
 such suffering his friends respond
with even harsher accusations.

Lord, we know You are With Us:
Eliphaz replied: Stop and think!
Does the innocent person perish?
When has upright been destroyed?
My experience shows that those
who plant trouble and cultivate evil
will harvest the same. They perish
by a breadth from God. They vanish
in a blast of his anger (Job 4:1-9).
Job: What is man that you make
so much of him, that you give 
him
so much attention. Have I
 sinned?
What have I done to you,
O watcher of all humanity?
Why
 have you made me your target? 
Why not just pardon my sin and
take away my guilt? (Job 7:17-20)

Dear Lord, help us from the
 painful experience of Job how to
 be a
true friend & not be careless
 basing on wrong assumption
that suffering is a result of sin.
Help us to Be Careful With Advice
& help us to empathetically Listen.
Help us when under trial, to learn
from Job: Claiming You’re With Us
and believing in Your mercy. Amen.

Lord, help us to be careful of
 what we say lest our words only
serve to increase pain of others.
Help us avoid come to conclusion
 too readily or take a truth and
simply apply to someone’s life.
Help us realise that You can use
 suffering to transform character.
Help us look at suffering as test 
of our faithfulness to You. Amen.

Lord, it is hard to comprehend
the depth of Your love and why
You care about details of my life.
Where bad things have happened
 and I have blamed You Lord,
I humbly ask for Your forgiveness.
I am grateful that in those difficult
times You are always with me.
Thank You Lord for working
 things out for my good. Amen.

Praising God in Tough Times

Job, a godly and wealthy resident
of Uz, watches helplessly as his
health, blessings and prosperity
collapse around him. Unknown to
him, Job’s problems do not begin
on earth, but in heaven. With God’s
permission and within divinely
imposed limitations, Satan launches
devastating attack in an attempt
to force Job renounce God. In the
midst of each trial, Job’s faith in
God shines brightly, tho personal
turmoil tears at Job’s heart as
he asks repeatedly: Why God?

Lord, we purpose to Praise You:
The Lord asked Satan: Have you
noticed my servant Job? A man
of complete integrity & fears God.
Satan replied: Yes Job fears God
but not without reason!Take away
everything he has & he will curse
you! The Lord said: You may test
him. Do whatever with everything
he possesses, but don’t harm him
physically…Job shaved his head,
and said: Naked I come from my
mother’s womb, and naked I will
depart. The Lord gave & the Lord
has taken away; may the name of
the Lord be praised (Job 1:8-21).
And the Lord said to Satan: Do with
him as you please. But spare his life.
So Satan struck Job with terrible
boils from head to foot. His wife said
to him: Are you still trying to maintain
your integrity? Curse God and die.
But he said: … Shall we indeed accept
good from God and shall we not accept adversity? In all this Job
did not sin with his lips (Job 2:6-10).

Lord, we Trust Your Sovereignty
even in the midst of suffering.
Although we don’t know why
bad things have to happen but
You’re in control of the situation
and You’re able to carry us through.
Lord, when under time of Testing,
Empower us to Continue Praising U;
Help us Not Sin with Our Lips;
& Deliver us From Fears. Amen.

Loving Lord, I will praise you no
matter what happens in my life,
in good times and in bad times.
Even in the midst of disappointment,
loss, or failure, I will purpose to
continue to praise and thank You.
For I know You Lord will work
powerfully in my situation and
be glorified in the process. Amen.

Lord, just as the teacher cannot
speak during a test, You God often
remain silent in testing times.
Although I don’t know why the
bad things have to happen but
I know You know best and You
are able & will carry me through.
And I purpose to trust In You Lord
and will not sin with my lips.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Be Sincere & Humble

Through both His words and works,
Christ proclaims His true identity
to the disciples and the multitudes.
At first even His companions are
perplexed by His power & authority,
wondering: What manner of man
is this, that even the wind and
the sea obey Him. But patiently –
through the miracles of exorcism,
healing and even raising the dead
the Master Servant works to
convince His followers of the
nature of His person and mission.

Lord, we aim to Be Sincere & Humble:
Then the Pharisees… asked Him: Why
do your disciples not walk according to
the tradition… but eat with unwashed
hands? He answered: Well did Isaiah
prophesy of you Hypocrites: These
people honour me with their lips, but
their hearts are far from me (Mk 7:5-6)
You are not defiled by what u eat;
you are defiled by what you say & do!
It is the thought-life that defiles you.
For from Within, out of a person’s
heart, come evil thoughts… greed,
wickedness, deceit… slander, pride…
All these vile things come from within;
they are what defile you and made
you unacceptable to God (v15-23).
A woman whose young daughter had
an unclean spirit came… Jesus said:
Let the children be filled first, for it is
not good to take the children’s bread
and throw it to the little dogs. And she
answered; Even the little dogs eat from
the children’s crumbs. Then He said:
Go your way; the demon has gone
out of your daughter (v25-29).

Lord, we see in Mark gospel, Your 
ministry of power and authority
and yet with a servant mindset.
Help us Lord beware of traditions
that can clutter up our minds
and crowd out important things.
Lift us out of mere tradition into
the freedom and life of Your Spirit.
Help us Lord to focus on those
things that You value dearly. Amen

Lord, create a pure heart in me
and put a loyal spirit within me.
Give me a heart that is in tune
with You so that love motivates
daily decisions and behaviour.
Help me pay attention to Inner Life
and be transformed into Your image.
Help me think about what is true,
right, pure and lovely. Amen.

Lord, help us learn from the Greek
woman to have the right attitude
in approaching You with Humility
not asking for rights but mercy.
Help us Lord to have Persistence
of pushing through all barriers,
thus showing her Sincere Faith.
Help us not focus on ourselves,
our problems but solely on You.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Seeking God thru Biblical Prayers

The purpose of the Gospel of
Mark is to present the person,
work and teachings of Jesus…
For the Son of Man did not come
to be served but to serve and to
give His life as a ransom for many.
This week we see the importance
of Trusting God & Doing His Work.
On Monday, we learn from Mark 7
on Being Sincere and Humble.
On Tues, we learn from Mark 8
on Trusting the Bread of Life.
On Wed, we learn from Mark 9/10
on Call to Serve Humbly & Selflessly.
On Thursday, we learn from Mark 11
on the need to Have Faith In God.
On Friday, we learn from Mark 12
on Loving God Wholeheartedly.
On Saturday, we learn from Mark 13
on Preparing for The Lord’s Return.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face… In Jesus’ name.