General Convention

Proverbs 3:27-28 (New Living Translation)
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them.
If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
“Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

Jehovah Sabaoth,
We have been persistent. We have pressed in for years. We have cried out for Your children. There are those who deserve Your help in Anaheim. You know who they are.
We say it now! We say the words that you gave us, and we say them back to You!

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them.
If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
“Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

Faith without works is dead, and You are not a dead God. You are the Lord of Life. Do not delay, and perform Your works now. Perform Your works for those who deserve it. They are due Your help because they have been bought with the blood of Your Son. Amen.

Call2Fall

Pray for Pure Motives and Kingdom Purpose –

Holy Lord, we ask You to deepen and purify our very motives in praying for revival and blessing. Lord, teach us to seek Your “face” and not just Your “hand.” Cause us to seek You and not just Your comfort or blessing. Dear God, teach us to pray for Your glory and pleasure, not our own.
(Hebrews 4:12; James 4:1-4)

The Lord’s Resistance Army

Earlier this year, Lent & Beyond offered a series of prayers for the defeat of the Lord’s Resistance Army. These prayers ran concurrent with the prayer campaign for the primates’ meeting in Alexandria. The prayers were based on Psalms 17 and 18. On googling for recent reports on the LRA, I found a report of recent resolutions introduced in the US Congress. Today’s lectionary readings are from Psalm 18, and hence another offering.

30 God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
31 For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?
32 God arms me with strength,
and he makes my way perfect.
33 He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
35 You have given me your shield of victory.
Your right hand supports me;
your help has made me great.
36 You have made a wide path for my feet
to keep them from slipping.
37 I chased my enemies and caught them;
I did not stop until they were conquered.
38 I struck them down so they could not get up;
they fell beneath my feet.
39 You have armed me with strength for the battle;
you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
40 You placed my foot on their necks.
I have destroyed all who hated me.
41 They called for help, but no one came to their rescue.
They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
42 I ground them as fine as dust in the wind.
I swept them into the gutter like dirt.

O Father,
Your Son is our Lord, and in His name we claim Your shield of victory against the Lord’s Resistance Army. Amen.

Acts 10:24-33

And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. (Acts 10:24)
      Holy Spirit, please give us a heart like the heart of Cornelius — that we would gather together our families and friends to wait for your witnesses at your prompting..

As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. (Acts 10:25)
      Thank you, Father, for giving Cornelius, a Roman officer, such a heart of humility. Please work in our hearts so that we will do whatever is necessary to receive your witness.

But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” (Acts 10:26)
      Jesus, thank you for giving Peter a heart to refuse honor that should go only to you. Please give us such humility.

And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. (Acts 10:27)
      Thank you, Holy Spirit, for the amazing faith you gave Cornelius — that he would have brought together his family and friends to wait when he could have no idea when Peter would arrive or if he would even come. Cornelius didn’t hold back anything in his desire for more God; help us do the same hunger.

Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” (Acts 10:28 )
      Father, write that on our hearts as well; give us a heart to reach out to everyone you place in our path.

“Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?” (Acts 10:29)
      Jesus, you gave Peter a heart to walk from Joppa to Caesarea [probably 40 miles or more] and ask questions later. Give us such boldness to follow your promptings.

So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.’” (Acts 10:30-31)
      Father, thank you for hearing our prayers and remembering our alms.

“‘Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” (Acts 10:32-33)
      Whow! Holy Spirit, give us such a receptive heart as you did Cornelius.

Thursday: 18:1-20; 1 Samuel 16:14-17:11; Acts 10:17-33; Luke 24:36-53
Friday: 16, 17; 1 Samuel 17:17-30; Acts 10:34-48; Mark 1:1-13

Albany Intercessor

There is no barrier

Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
You opened the heavens and came down, soaring on the wings of the wind. You suffered and died and rose from the dead on the third day. You spoke to Peter in a dream and appeared to Cornelius in a vision.
There is no barrier that you cannot vanquish. Holy is Your name. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord. You are mighty and powerful, sovereign over heaven and earth and all that is therein. We proclaim Your holy name over Your children at the General Convention in Anaheim; we claim Your sovereignty over all that is therein. We declare Your power and might over spiritual rulers of darkness who are holding Your children captive. Set the prisoners free. Amen.