Category: 2019 Prayers

No Condemnatn for those In Christ

Backgrounder on Romans 6-8:
Paul anticipates questions arising
fr hearing gospel of grace. If God’s
grace is free, then am I free to sin?
If I am free from the law, then can
I ignore the ethical demands of
the law? Paul has no illusions that
becoming a Christian means the
end of your troubles. But the life
-giving Spirit provides confidence,
for victorious Christian living
in the storms of everyday life.

Lord, we will Pray with Your Spirit:
There is No Condemnation for those
who are In Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1).
The Spirit helps us in our weakness.
We do not know what we ought to
pray for, but the Spirit intercedes
for us with groans that words
cannot express. He who searches
our hearts… intercedes for the
saints in accordance with the
will of God (v26-27). And we know
that in all things God Works for
the Good of those who love Him,
who have been called according
to His purpose (Rom 8:28). Amen.

Father, forgive me for the times
that I wrongly think You want
to punish me for my failures.
For Jesus took my punishment
and gave me His righteousness.
Because of that You Lord see me
as perfect and precious. Help me
to better understand Your grace
and mercy so that I might be
more gracious and merciful. Amen.

Lord, No Condemnation are two
of the most beautiful words in
the world. And yet some days
they are hard for me to believe,
hard for me to really take hold of.
On one hand, I may be quick some
time to blame others for the problem
but deep down I condemn myself.
Help me Lord to live in the reality
of the freedom that comes from
Your grace and be at peace. Amen.

Holy Spirit, help me in my weakness
by interceding for me and thro me.
You know the will of the Father
and You know what to pray for.
Guide me and teach me especially
when I have exhausted all words.
Help me to communicate to God
my deepest thoughts, feelings,
fears and doubts, so that my
prayers are pleasing to God. Amen

Lord, thank you for the Spirit’s
help in difficult times and the
Spirit’s intercession for me when
I am overwhelmed by trouble.
In the middle of intense trials and
great pain, we often can’t pray.
We don’t know what to say; and
don’t have the strength to muster
the right words. And I trust You
to take my distress & work things
out for my Ultimate Good. Amen.

God Uses Problems For Good

After painting humanity’s sorry
condition, Paul turns to God’s
merciful solution. Jesus’ death on
the cross has paid sin’s penalty and
satisfied God’s righteous demand.
To the one who in faith accepts
Jesus’ payment, God stamps
across the debt of sin: Paid in Full.
That is justification. Its basis is
the work of Christ; its means is
the grace of God; its requirement
is faith in God and His promise.

Lord, we Allow Problems Shape us:
We can rejoice when we run into
trials, for they help us to Endure.
And endurance develops strength
of character in us, and character
strengthens our confident expection
of salvation. And this expectation
will Not Disappoint us. For God
loves us dearly (Rom 5:3-4).
We can rejoice because of what
Jesus has done for us in making
us Friends of God (v11). Amen.

Lord, You want me to Trust You
in the hard times. But rejoicing
isn’t natural for me, so make it
my supernatural response to
pressures & difficulties in my life.
Lord, I surrender and allow myself
to be Molded & Shaped by trials.
And teach me to Endure so that
my faith will grow steadily and
get stronger over time. Amen.

Lord, I place my Hope in You.
I trust that You are working on
my behalf, no matter how difficult
the circumstances become.
For I believe that You won’t just
put me through trials; but that
You also plan joys for me too.
Please fill me Lord with Hope
– the kind that comes from Your
Spirit and cannot disappoint. And
help me live in that Hope. Amen.

Father, I rejoice in my relationship
with You God all because of what
Jesus Christ has done for me.
Having an intimate relationship
with Jesus also enable me have
an eternal perspective about
anything that may happen to me.
I gratefully praise you for the
joy such a Friendship brings.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gt-OouIx8Lk

Gospel Is Power of God At Work

Paul begins by describing the
helpless condition of humanity. A
rebellious nature has led to rejection
of the Creator & worship of creation.
God in turn permitted sinful nature of
human beings to express the fullness
of its corruption and the whole
human race stands helpless before
God. Truly, all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God.

Lord, we will Share the Gospel:
I am not ashamed of this Good News
about Christ. It is the power of God
at work, saving everyone who
believes… This Good News tells us
how God makes us right in his sight.
This is accomplished from start to
finish by faith. As the Scriptures say:
It is through faith that a righteous
person has life (Rom 1:16-17).

Father, I know that You have sent
Jesus into this world. Through Him
I have been declared righteous
and I am freed from the penalty
and the power of sin. He has done
for me what no other could ever do.
Enlarge my appreciation & affection
for Jesus and for Your gospel.
And may I share it to others. Amen.

Lord, what a treasure I have in Your
gospel. For the gospel promises
that the power of God will do for me
what I can’t possibly accomplish.
What Christ has done means that
my sins are forgiven, that I have a
right standing with God; and that
the power of God is at work to
produce the righteous life He
desires. So enlarge my gratitude
towards Your gospel so that I live
a life that is worthy of it. Amen.

Lord, thank You for the good news
that You have made a way for us
to be made right with You and
have peace with You. This truth,
this gospel has the power to change
everything. So we ask that this
power go to work deep in us. May
this good news of righteousness
provided to us in Christ transform
our interactions and expectations.
Work in us and thro the good news
towards those yet to know U. Amen.

Be Still & Know that I Am God

The 2nd book of Psalms (42-72),
is similar to Exodus, describing
Israel as ruined and then recovered.
These psalms help us see wonder
in worship, pray for rescue, confess
sin and encourage us to trust God.
And Ps 42-49 are attributed to sons
of Korah, descendants of the man
who died for his rebellion against
Moses. They mostly serve as
singers & musicians in the temple.

Lord, just as You Rescued Israel,
You can also Rescue Your children.
So, we can go to You God with our problems, ask You to help us and
Be Still & know that You are God.
We Embrace Your Presence.
We Trust Your Unfailing Love.
We Seek Your Help & Refuge. Amen.

Lord, we Embrace Your Presence:
As the deer pants for streams of
water, so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God…
Why am I discouraged? Why
so sad? I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again – my Savior
and my God! (Psa 42:1-2, 11).
Lord, we praise You for being
Emmanuel. You are God with us as
we walk through this broken world.
Deliver me and bless me O Lord!
And help me be Your hands & feet
to give words of encouragement
to those who need to know ‘where
You are’ in their times of need. Amen

Lord, we Trust Your Unfailing Love:
Wake up Lord! Why do You sleep?
Get up! Don’t reject us forever.
Why do You look the other way?
Why do You ignore our suffering
and oppression? Rise up! Come
and help us! Save us because of
Your Unfailing Love (Ps 44:23-26).
Lord, thank You for Your promised
presence. Although my situation
may seem overwhelming, I call
on You with confidence because
You are all powerful & You love me.
Come and help me! Save me!
Save me because of Your Unfailing
Love and help me experience You
as my sure refuge. I wait expectantly
to see U move in a mighty way. Amen.

Lord, we Seek Your Help & Refuge:
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
So we will not fear, even if
earthquakes come and the
mountains crumble into the sea…
Be Still & know that I am God; I will
be exalted among the nations, I will
be exalted in the earth(Ps46:1-2,10)
Lord, when everything seems
to be falling apart, help me to
experience You as my refuge
and strength, my firm foundation.
You are the mountain mover,
and You can also hold things
steady in your hand. Guide me
and bless me as I entrust my
mountains to You, my solid and
ever faithful God & Father. Amen.

Divine Counsel to Life Challenges

The first book (Psa 1-41) is similar
to Genesis with many of these
psalms discussing man as blessed,
fallen and redeemed by God.
Whilst Psalms is basically a book of
prayer and praise, it also provides
practical counsel to life’s challenges.
In Psa 37-41, we learn how to deal
with fretfulness (P37), failing strength
(38), curbing tongue (39) rest in
God’s faithfulness (40) & respond
to a friend’s unfaithfulness (41).

Father God, thanks for Your loving
kindness, faithfulness and promise
of help to the challenges of life.
Grant us Your grace & strength for
we Your children don’t know what
to do but our eyes are upon You.
We will Delight more in You.
We will Trust You Hear our cry.
We will Wait patiently on You. Amen.

Lord, we will Delight in You:
Delight yourself also in the Lord
and He shall give you the desires
of your heart. Commit your way
to the Lord, trust also in Him,
and He shall bring it to pass…
Rest in the Lord & wait patiently
for Him… those who wait on the Lord
shall inherit the earth (Ps 37:4-9).
Lord, I want to delight in You,
knowing & loving U more each day.
Help me to discover the fullness
of joy in your presence and to take
great delight in relationship with you.
May my heart desire U above all else.
I commit everything to Your control
even as I purpose not to worry but
instead trust & wait upon You. Amen.

Lord, we Trust You Hear Our Cry:
You know what I long for,
Lord, You hear my every sigh…
For in You O Lord I hope;
You will hear, O Lord my God…
Do not forsake me, O Lord;
O my God, be not far from me!
Make haste to help me, O Lord,
my salvation (Psa 38:9-15, 21-22)
Lord, thank You for knowing what
I long for and for hearing my sigh.
Thank you for not turning away
when I confess a foolish mistake.
And I cast my burdens and desires
to my caring heavenly Father for
You are my only salvation. Amen.

Lord, we will Wait Patiently for You:
I waited patiently for the Lord
to help me, and He turned to me
and heard my cry. He lifted me
out of the pit of despair, out of
the miry clay. He set my feet on
solid ground and steadied me…
Be pleased O Lord to deliver me;
O Lord make haste to help me!
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay (Psa 40:1-2, 13-17).
Lord, I look to You to work within
me a spirit of patient waiting.
Grant me hope and expectation
as I watch for You to display
Your grace in my life. Keep me
from losing heart or becoming
impatient, and cause me to
continue to pray as I wait to see
Your powerful hand at work. Amen.

Praising God Releases Power

Paul’s second missionary journey
begins with a new companion
– Silas. The team soon doubles
in size as Timothy and Luke are
added. Initially given a warm
reception in Philippi, Paul & Silas
soon experience flogging and
Imprisonment for disrupting the
profitable soothsaying business.
But God uses even this to bring
a jailer and his family to salvation.

Lord, we Claim Power of Praise:
Around midnight, Paul and Silas
were praying and Singing Hymns
to God, and the other prisoners
were listening. Suddenly, there was
a great earthquake…All the doors
flew open and the chains of every
prisoner fell off. The jailer woke up
to see the prison doors wide open.
He assumed the prisoners had
escaped, so he drew his sword
to kill himself. But Paul shouted:
Stop! Don’t kill yourself! we are
all here! (Acts 16:25-28). Amen

Lord, we thank and praise You
for grace in our lives. We magnify
Your Name for there is none like U!
When I face difficult circumstances
and may be tempted to give up,
remind me Lord of the example of
Paul & Silas and how U intervened
for them. Then put words of Praise
in my mouth. For You are my hope
in the midst of troubles. Amen.

Lord, the circumstances may not
be pretty and there are things
that I don’t quite understand.
What are You really doing in this
particular situation? What do
You want to do through me?
Although I may be hurting but
may Your sovereign will be done.
And I am open to whatever You
want to do & accomplish. Amen.

Lord, I purpose to praise and
worship You in every situation; for
they have to bow to Your Presence
when I bow to Your Presence.
Trust that You will respond to my
praise of You, sometimes visibly
in power and sometimes invisibly.
But either way, Your Presence
is real when my heart is in syn
with the truth of Your glory. Amen

Seeking God in Fast & Prayer

Acts 13 marks the beginning
of Paul’s missionary career.
Returning to Antioch at the end
of their first missionary journey,
Paul and his travelling companion
Barnabas report to their home
church and seek to resolve
the issue of including Gentiles in
the previously all-Jewish church.

Lord,we seek Yr Purpose in Prayer:
As they Ministered to the Lord
and fasted, the Holy Spirit said:
Now separate to Me Barnabas
and Saul for the work to which
I Have Called them. Then having
Fasted and Prayed and laid hands,
they sent them away (Acts 13:2-3)
They came to Antioch and went
into the synagogue on Sabbath…
On the next Sabbath almost the
Whole City came together to hear
the word of God (v14, 44) Amen.

Lord, we are created primarily
to Worship and adore You.
So, let me not become overly
consumed with just good things
that I want to do for others & You.
And that I neglect the best thing
– bowing before You in Worship
and praise and seeking Your
direction for my life in prayer.
Lord, draw me into daily Worship
and communion with You. Amen.

Lord, I know my Calling & purpose
is revealed in prayer. I know it is
defined within a church body of
believers, for it’s almost impossible
to develop to our full potential
independently of other believers.
Grant us unity for it adds power
to our prayers and confidence
that God will answer in power.
And enable me to be set apart
for the work You’ve for me. Amen.

Lord, I ask You to bless all those
in full-time Christian ministry.
Bless all my pastors and family
in every way; and that they be
led by the Spirit to know not just
the general will of God but also
the specific will for every situation.
Bless all missionaries and staff
members that they be effective
in their respective ministries. And
Bless each church member so that
out of gratitude they worship You
& Introduce Gospel to others. Amen.

Divine Encounter & Encouragement

Two years after the Commission, only
Jerusalem had heard the good news.
Then persecution hits, scattering
disciples into Judea and Samaria.
Phillip extends his witness to Africa
thro conversion of visiting dignitary.
And Saul encounters the risen
Lord on the road to Damascus,
transforming him from Saul the
Antagonist to Paul the Missionary.

Lord, we seek Encountering You:
The Lord told (Ananias): Go to
the house of Judas on Straight
Street and ask for a man from
Tarsus named Saul for he is Praying
And in a vision he has seen you
putting your hand on him… Go
for he is a chosen vessel of Mine
to bear My name before Gentiles…
Immediately he preached Christ
in the synagogues that He is
the Son of God (Acts 9:11-20).
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem,
he tried to meet with the believers,
but they were all afraid of him…
Then Barnabas brought him to
the apostles and told them how
Saul had seen the Lord on the
way to Damascus (Acts 9:26-27).

Lord, You gave Paul a dramatic
Encounter on the road to Damascus.
Throughout history many have told
of encounters and the fruit of their
lives validated their testimonies.
An Encounter with You can turn
anyone into a passionate believer
who will earnestly give You the glory.
So step into our experiences in
powerful and life-altering ways
and show us Your glory. Amen.

Lord, You appeared to Saul, blinded
him to get his attention and then
turnaround his life. Likewise, You
may allow me to get to a dark place
where I can’t see without Your help.
At those times, help me to do as
Paul did and Pray fervently so that
my spiritual sight can be restored
and Your Will Be Done. Amen.

Lord, help me to see others with
Your eyes; and make me to be
an encourager like Barnabas.
Give me the vision to see the
potential U have deposited in them.
Fill me with courage to stand with
those who are in trouble and need
my help or defense. And make me
a bridge of encouragement from
Your heart to the hearts of others.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Giving Ourselves to Prayer

Visited by their resurrected Lord
and empowered by the promised
Comforter, the disciples fearlessly
follow their marching orders.
The advance of the gospel is
soon opposed by adversaries.
Attacks from without and within
threaten to fracture the body
of believers in Jerusalem. But
prompt discipline, wise leadership
and unflinching commitment
only serve to enlarge the church.

Lord, we offer ourselves to You:
Brothers, select seven men who
are well respected and are full of
the Spirit and wisdom. We will give
them this responsibility. Then we
apostles can spend our time in
prayer and teaching the word…
These seven were presented to
the apostles, who prayed for them
as they laid their hands on them.
So God’s message continued to
spread. The number of believers
greatly increased (Acts 6:3-7).

Lord, grant me grace for continual
readiness and devotion to prayer.
Open my eyes & heart to understand
the great privilege You have given
me in allowing me free access into
Your throne room. Give me a heart
that is hungry to spend time with U.
And as I do, prepare my mind and
heart for the work You have for me
to do for You & Your kingdom. Amen.

Lord, I ask You to bless all those
in full-time ministry. I pray first of
all for my pastors, that You would
bless them and their families in
every way. I pray also for the staff
at my church to be blessed by You
Lord and to be led by Your Spirit.
Keep them all safe and protect them
from any attack of the evil one.
And help them to stand strong
against every temptation. Amen.

Lord, we realise each person has
a vital part to play in the life of
the church. For we are created
in Christ Jesus for good works;
which God prepared beforehand
that we should walk in them. So,
prompt and lead each of us to offer
our God-given gifts and talents for
service in various church ministries
and so live a life of purpose. Amen.

Empowered to Be Witnesses

With Jesus’ last instruction still
in their ears, the disciples go forth
speaking words of eternal life.
Visited by their resurrected Lord
and empowered by the promised
Comforter, they fearlessly follow
their marching orders in spite
of mocking, threats and abuse.
The advance of the gospel is
soon opposed by adversaries. But
prompt discipline, wise leadership
and unflinching commitment
only serve to enlarge the church.

Lord, we will Be Your Witnesses:
Jesus said: U Shall Receive Power
when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you Shall Be
Witnesses to Me… (Acts 1:8).
Jesus has been taken from
you into heaven, but someday
He Will Return in the same way
you saw Him go. (Acts 1:11).
In the last days…I will Pour Out of
My Spirit on all flesh… and whoever calls on the name of the Lord
shall be saved (Acts 2:17-21).

Lord, thanks for giving us your
Holy Spirit when we accepted
You, to Be Empowered and Be
Your Witness. Give me ears to hear
and teach me how to listen to You.
Enable me to better understand
virtues like grace, forgiveness,
eternity; and most of all You.
Keep me from the distraction
of busyness & draw me closer
to You more and more. Amen.

Lord, let it be settled in my heart
that You Are Returning. Help me
to be sensitive to changing seasons
both in my life & those around me.
Help me to share Your life with
others who are open to know more
about You. Open my eyes to the
signs around me so that I might
prepare for Your Return out of
gratitude for Your great love. Amen

Spirit, I want to experience the reality
of Your Presence & see more of You.
Empower me in concrete ways that
I know I’ll never be the same again.
Fill me with prophecies, healing
or whatever gift You may offer.
I’m open & have Your way in me.
Reveal any obstacle between us or
any change of mind I need to make.
May Your character & Your ways
rub off on me so that my heart can
become more like Yours. Amen.