Deliver us from paralysis

Ephesians 6:17 (New International Version)
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

O Father,
The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion have been greatly impoverished by our sins. Our corporate mind has been bound by lies.
We confess our confusion, our fear of man, and our fear of failure. We have been proud, boastful, and haughty. We exalt man-made systems of thought over Your Holy Word. Forgive us our sins, for they are many. We have not obeyed Your voice.
We take up Your Holy Word in the firm hope of Your healing and deliverance. In the name of Your Son Jesus, we speak to the spirits of confusion, fear of man, fear of failure, and all that which binds our corporate mind and command them to depart. Jesus is the Truth.
We humbly ask You to help us to pull down these lies. Amen.

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.

Call2Fall

Pray for an Increase of Laborers –

Lord of the harvest, please call thousands into ministry, missions and Christian witness. Send forth a mighty flood of laborers into the harvest.
(Matthew 9:37-38; Acts 1:8)

Confession

Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” Genesis 3:1

O Lord,

We stand in Manasseh! We have forgotten You.

We have cast aside Your truths for The-Right-to-Choose truths.

The-Right-to-Choose has distracted us with distractions upon distractions. Our schedules are oppressed under its yoke. The-Right-to-Choose has appropriated our Sabbaths.

The-Right-to-Choose has multiplied our media options into a flood of mortal ills. It has stolen our biblical literacy and compromised the spiritual formation of our children.

The-Right-to-Choose turned our attention from personal sin to social and political sin. We forgot the wretchedness of repeated offenses against You and the need of each person for the cross. Our humility is atrophied, and we are held hostage by a host of hypertrophic human pretensions.

The-Right-to-Choose has foisted on us the lie that all choices are equal, all paths lead to God. It has subtly picked away our understanding of the uniqueness of Christ.

The-Right-to-Choose has usurped the instruction of our seminaries
and stolen our spiritual leaders. At the beck and call of The-Right-to-Choose, we are now dismantling the outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace.

The-Right-to-Choose has expanded our sexual prowess, corrupted our innocence, and robbed our children of their fathers.

We have offered up our unborn children on the altar of The-Right-to-Choose.

This alliance of Beelzebub-Mammon-Baal-Asherah-Molech has masqueraded as The-Right-to-Choose and stolen our harvest of holiness these long years.

We have forgotten You, and the burden is intolerable. Have mercy. Amen.
Judges 6:25-26

Psalm 119:1-8

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! (Psalm 119:1)
      LORD, bless all those faithful bishops and deputies at the General Convention who walk in your way and heed your law.

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with the whole heart! (Psalm 119:2)
      Jesus, we pray for your disciples at General Convention, that they will keep and speak your testimonies. We pray that in the midst of the confusion there that they will seek you and your will with an undivided heart.

They also do no iniquity; they walk in his ways. (Psalm 119:3)
      Jesus, please keep your faithful people in the shelter of your arms — protect them from doing any evil and help them walk in your way.

You have commanded us to keep your precepts diligently. (Psalm 119:4)
      Holy Spirit, help us to be diligent in keeping to your ways and in praying for your people at General Convention.

Oh, that my ways were directed to keep your statutes! (Psalm 119:5)
      Lord Jesus, direct our ways — be Lord of our lives as well as our Savior.

Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all your commandments. (Psalm 119:6)
      Father, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is your power of salvation for everyone who believes. (From Romans 1:16)

I will praise you with uprightness of heart, when I learn your righteous judgments. (Psalm 119:7)
      Holy Spirit, help all of us in this diocese learn that your word will judge us; it is not for us to judge your word.

I will keep your statutes; oh, do not forsake me utterly! (Psalm 119:8 )
      Jesus, though my heart condemns me, I know that you are greater than my heart and know all things, and because of you I can have confidence toward your father. Thank you. (From 1 John 3:20-21)

Please pray for the General Convention of the Episcopal Church.

*      May the Name of Jesus, the Son of God, who is mightier than all the hosts of Satan, and more glorious than all the angels of heaven, abide with your faithful deputies and bishops at the General Convention in their going out and their coming in; by day and by night; at morning and at evening; at all times and in all places.
*      May the Name of Jesus, the Son of God, protect and deliver them from the wrath of evil persons; from the assaults of evil spirits; from foes invisible; from the snares of the Evil One; and from all low passions that beguile the soul and body.
*      May the Name of Jesus protect and deliver them.
*      And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with them this day and always. Amen.
*      (Blessing adapted from the Anglican Christian community in Ceylon, Pakistan, and India:)

Albany Intercessor

General Convention

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Jehovah-jireh, we exalt You.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Jehovah-jireh, we declare Your promises.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Jehovah-jireh, we trust in Your provision.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Jehovah-jireh, we forgive. Help our unforgiveness.
Lead us not into temptation.
Jehovah-jireh, Satan crouches at the door.
Deliver us from evil.
Jehovah-jireh, we thank You that Your name is a strong tower. We run to it and are safe.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Please pray for the General Convention of the Episcopal Church.

A word received: Pray for my people at General Convention. They are surrounded by those who despise my word. Pray that as with Elisha and his servant [2 Kings 6:8-17, especially verses 16 and 17] they will see that there are more for them than against them. I AM with them and I AM faithful.

Tuesday: 5, 6; 1 Samuel 15:24-35; Acts 9:32-43; Luke 23:56b-24:11
Wednesday: 119:1-24; 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Acts 10:1-16; Luke 24:12-35

Albany Intercessor

Call2Fall

Pray for a Passion for Missions –

Righteous God, empower Your people with a burning passion for local and global missions. Grant to us a fiery zeal for planting new churches. Please forgive us for our frequent lack of concern beyond “me and mine.”
(Matthew 18:12, 24:14, 28:19; Luke 19:10; Acts 1:8)

1 Samuel 15:22-30

So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he also has rejected you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
      Father, bring the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church now assembled in General Convention to obedience to your word. We are a rebellious and stubborn people and have gone our own way rather than walk in your ways. Have mercy on us.

Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” (1 Samuel 15:24)
      Father, the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church have heeded the voice of the popular culture and not your words. Have mercy on us and bring them and us to repentance.

“Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.” (1 Samuel 15:25)
      Holy Spirit, please help the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church turn to you in repentance.

But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” (1 Samuel 15:26)
      Jesus, give your faithful bishops and deputies to the General Convention discernment of those who have rejected your word. Protect your faithful people at General Convention from false choices.

And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. So Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.” (1 Samuel 15:27-28 )
      Holy Father, the Presiding Bishop and many other bishops have grasped at power that is not rightfully theirs; please raise up faithful bishops in their place.

“And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For he is not a man, that he should relent.” (1 Samuel 15:29)
      Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
      There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
      Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
      As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain
      Great is Thy faithfulness!
      Great is Thy faithfulness!
      Morning by morning new mercies I see.
      All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
      Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

      Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
      Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
      Join with all nature in manifold witness
      To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

      Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
      Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
      Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
      Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

      [Words: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923]

Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.” (1 Samuel 15:30)
      LORD, bring the leaders and teachers of your people to true humility where they will seek the honor that comes only from you and not the honor that comes from men.

      A word received: Look to me, turn to me. I AM faithful. Look to me and not at circumstances. I AM, look to me.

Tuesday: 5, 6; 1 Samuel 15:24-35; Acts 9:32-43; Luke 23:56b-24:11
Wednesday: 119:1-24; 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Acts 10:1-16; Luke 24:12-35

Albany Intercessor

Our prayers

Judges 6:20-21 (New International Version)
The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared.

O Lord, please accept our prayers and offerings for Your people, inadequate though the prayers may be. We place them on the rock of Jesus Christ and entrust them to the work of the Holy Spirit. You are our peace. Amen.

General Convention

Jeremiah 8:18-22 (New International Version)

18 O my Comforter in sorrow,
my heart is faint within me.

19 Listen to the cry of my people
from a land far away:
“Is the LORD not in Zion?
Is her King no longer there?”
“Why have they provoked me to anger with their images,
with their worthless foreign idols?”

20 “The harvest is past,
the summer has ended,
and we are not saved.”

21 Since my people are crushed, I am crushed;
I mourn, and horror grips me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no healing
for the wound of my people?

O Lord,
I thank You for the faithful intercessors in the Episcopal Church and in other Anglican denominations. Our eyes do not see as Yours, but we honor Your call for us to remain fervent in prayer. We lean on You and not our own understanding. We lean on You.
Your Son is our balm. He rests on our wounds. He is our Physician. We claim the promise of His healing. We lean on You and not our own understanding. Amen.