January 31, 2021 Prayer - Shepherd's guarding against our fears and anxieties

Good Shepherd,

Thank you that you are our Yahweh, our King, robed in power and strength.  Your majesty and glory reign over all the earth; your voice thunders in brilliance!  Thank you that you are the Good Shepherd and the Gateway for us, your flock.  We know that when we listen to you and accept your gifts of grace, we can experience abundant life, freedom, and fullness of joy.   In this world there are many times we feel like troubles are overwhelming, our fears suffocate us, our feet slip on what we thought were firm rocks of relationships, livelihoods, and trusts, and then anxiety rises within us.  Help us to remember that your presence, your consolation, and your support bring us safety and even joy in the midst of trials.  We humble ourselves before you - confessing the times we have not lived life your Way - and asking you to help us cast our anxieties on you and to be alert and sober to the world around us. We pray in the name of Jesus against any spirit of fear that would want to attack us in our physical bodies, mental health, finances, relationships, livelihood, or our future.   We claim the protection of your covenant blood over us as we battle the devouring enemy of our souls.  Help us, Holy Spirit, to resist that enemy, to stand firm in the faith, and to trust that you will lift us up in due time.  We don't want to live in those fear or anxieties; help us to trust your Perfect Love to fill us up so there is no room for fears.  In the strong, powerful, and protecting name of Christ we pray, Amen!

"Look! Yahweh now reigns as King!

He has covered himself with majesty and strength,

wearing them as his splendor-garments.

Regal power surrounds him as he sits securely on his throne.

He’s in charge of it all, the entire world,

and he knows what he’s doing!

Lord, you have reigned as King from the very beginning of time.

Eternity is your home.

Chaos once challenged you.

The raging waves lifted themselves over and over,

high above the ocean’s depths, letting out their mighty roar!

Yet at the sound of your voice they were all stilled by your might.

What a majestic King, filled with power!

Nothing could ever change your royal decrees;

they will last forever!

Holiness is the beauty that fills your house;

you are the one who abides forevermore!" (Psalm 93 TPT)

"The voice of the Lord echoes through the skies and seas. The Glory-God reigns as he thunders in the clouds. So powerful is his voice, so brilliant and bright, how majestic as he thunders over the great waters!" (Psalm 29:3-4 TPT)

"So Jesus went over it again, “I speak to you eternal truth: I am the Gate for the flock.  All those who broke in before me are thieves who came to steal, but the sheep never listened to them. I am the Gateway.  To enter through me is to experience life, freedom, and satisfaction. A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow! I am the Good Shepherd who lays down my life as a sacrifice for the sheep." (John 10:7-11 TPT)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

"There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love]." (1 John 4:18 AMP)

"When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
    your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.

When anxiety was great within me,

    your consolation brought me joy." (Psalm 94:18-19 NIV)

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 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." (1 Peter 5:6-9 NIV)

January 28, 2021 Prayer - Time and Spiritual Endurance

Timeless God,

We praise you who are the same yesterday, today, and forever.  We thank you that your love never fails and your compassions are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Thank you that in the midst of this time and season we live in, your Word gives us direction in a world that seems marked by upheaval and even chaos.  Your Word says there is a time for everything - every activity under the heavens.  Things we think are "good" and things we think are "bad" are already anticipated by you; you are not surprised.  Help us to walk closely with you, to be purposeful in seeking your will and your ways and to not settle for mediocrity in our spiritual lives.  By your Spirit, cause us to stop listening to the voices of the world - to fear mongers in places like media, government, education, our families and friends, and the Church.  Help us to have minds focused on your Word so that we attain a level of faith that reduces fear and uncertainty.  Help us to align our values and lifestyle with Jesus's values and to get our time, money, and priorities straight with you.   Holy Spirit, cause us to be strongly disciplined in our spiritual disciplines and to be present in a Church weekly where the Word is preached and you are worshipped in Spirit and in Truth.  When we seek your Kingdom first, God, we know we will see your plans to prosper us, not to harm us, and to give us a hope and a future.  We know it is not an accident that you have birthed us into this era.  When we feel like we are in spiritual exile, remind us that you hear us when we come and pray to you.  Remind us that we will find you when we call to you, when we come and pray to you, and when we seek you with all our hearts.  Remind us that with our eyes focused firmly on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, and with good spiritual training, we can run with endurance this race you have set before us.  In Jesus's name we pray, Amen. 

"There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,

    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace." (Eccl. 3:1-8 NIV)

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)

"I remember my affliction and my wandering,

    the bitterness and the gall.

I well remember them,

    and my soul is downcast within me.

Yet this I call to mind

    and therefore I have hope:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;

    therefore I will wait for him.”

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

    to the one who seeks him;

it is good to wait quietly

    for the salvation of the Lord." (Lamentations 3:19-26 NIV)

"For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:32-34 NIV)

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18 NIV)

"This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you backto this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:10-14 NIV)

"Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally." (1 Corinthians 9:24 MSG)

"...Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)