September 18, 2020 A New Year

 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."  (2 Chronicles 7:13-16 NIV)

God, your Word says that when we are believers we become Temples for your Holy Spirit.  Since you have chosen and consecrated us to be your Children, we come to you in prayer, knowing Your eyes and heart are always with us.  Thank you for hearing our prayers.  With believers in every place, today we seek You and call on You for the furthering of your Kingdom.  You word calls the thirsty and hungry to your Living Waters and we cry out to you for an even greater hunger to fall upon your People and your Church.  Revive them for this day.  And cleanse and renew us; align our thoughts and our ways to seek and follow Your thoughts and ways. We speak and declare your Word so that it is fruitful in our families, our communities, the churches, our nation, and the world.  May your Word accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which You sent it.  Help us to speak with discernment, intention, courage, and faith the Truth that you have revealed to us about your Love and Grace. May Your People go about life with your Spirit's JOY in their hearts, may they be led in Your PEACE.  And may Your renown endure forever. We pray in the strong name of Christ, Amen. 

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,

    come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

    come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

    without money and without cost.

2 

Why spend money on what is not bread,

    and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

    and you will delight in the richest of fare.

3 

Give ear and come to me;

    listen, that you may live.

6 

Seek the Lord while he may be found;

    call on him while he is near.

7 

Let the wicked forsake their ways

    and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,

    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

8 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.

9 

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 

As the rain and the snow

    come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

    without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

12 

You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

    will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

    will clap their hands.

13 

This will be for the Lord’s renown,

    for an everlasting sign,

    that will endure forever.”  (Isaiah 55 NIV)

Wisdom & healing

There seem to be two themes in my life right now. First is that of seeking God's wisdom and guidance for decisions to be made. Second is that of needing healing. These themes manefest themselves in different ways - a friend whose mother was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and has "weeks or months" left - wanting God's choice for the new lead pastor at our church - another friend whose husband and two children are ill right now - our family needing to make a major decision based on faith ... wisdom, healing. Healing, wisdom. God. It all ties in together.

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near....My word that goes out from my mouth...will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isa. 55:6, 11 NIV)

God of Wisdom, Mercy, and Peace,
In many corners of this world people are facing decisions, health crisis, and/or death to this life. Pour out the power of your Spirit into those places. Pour out mercy, healing, and peace upon those struggling with health or end-of-life issues. Pour out wisdom, knowledge, guidance, and peace upon those seeking your way. We claim your promise that your word will not return empty but will accomplish your desires and achieve your purposes. May we seek first your Kingdom and call upon you who is always near for your honor and for the futherance of your Church's ministry here on earth. In the powerful name of Christ we pray.
Amen

Prayer for a friend

Dear Friend,

Your husband asked me to write a letter of encouragement to you as you attend a special women's retreat at your church this weekend. I think I will pray over you and let the Word of God work within your heart and mine.



"Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water!
Are you penniless? Come anyway—buy and eat!
Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk.
Buy without money—everything's free!

Why do you spend your money on junk food,
your hard-earned cash on cotton candy?
Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best,
fill yourself with only the finest.

Pay attention, come close now,
listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.

Seek God while he's here to be found,
pray to him while he's close at hand.
Let the wicked abandon their way of life
and the evil their way of thinking.
Let them come back to God, who is merciful,
come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.

"I don't think the way you think.
The way you work isn't the way I work."
God's Decree.
"For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.

So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They'll do the work I sent them to do,
they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

"So you'll go out in joy,
you'll be led into a whole and complete life. (From Isa. 55 MSG)


Spirit of the Living, Loving God, as my friend enters into this weekend I pray first that she will be at peace with leaving the rest of her world behind for this short period of time. Help her to entrust her family into your care and to fully submit herself to your Spirit and grace.

I pray for her mind this weekend to not be cluttered by the cares of this world, but to be focused on your Voice, your Will, your Way.

I pray for her body this weekend that if she's struggling against any germ or allergy, you would heal her from that and return her to full health. I pray against any contaminates that would come against her and distract her from her focus this weekend.

I pray for her emotions this weekend, that where she needs healing you would be her Balm of Gilead. Where she needs comfort you would be her Comforter and turn her mourning into dancing. Where she needs peace, that you would calm the storm. Where she needs joy, may you fill her so full that her joy is overflowing.

I pray for her spirit this weekend. If there are specific questions she's asking, Lord hear her and answer her. If there are specific things you want to say to her this weekend, give her spiritual ears to know you, hear you, and respond. If there is a time and a way in which she can just relax into your arms of love and crawl up into her Abba Father's lap, Lord meet her there and hold her lovingly. May she go out with joy and be led forward in a whole and complete life.

I pray that your will would be done and your Kingdom come through this weekend. May you be honored and glorified in this time.

Amen.