Prayer Table Report

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table Report, May 8, 2010, 9:30 -10:30 AM Torre Bissell & David Carlson

+–indicates received wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina

+ Faye — she thought she would have to give money to get prayer – we assured Faye that it is free; she asked us to pray for her as she just moved to a new apartment

+ Jamey – we called out to this man from across the street – he crossed the street and asked us to pray for his wife + Brenda and daughter + Sade, and half-kidding he asked us to pray that he would win the lottery; we prayed for the Lord’s provision for him and his family

+ Charles – we prayed for this man for his sore foot, and for his health in general, that the Lord would drive out all illness from his body; he thanked us for our prayers and said, “at least someone’s looking out for me today.”

Robert — believer who also stopped for prayer last week on his way to catch a bus; he works a second job on the weekends to help pay child support for his teenage son who lives in New York City; he was upbeat and joyful and gave thanks for his family and the Lord’s provision

+ Willie – this man was pushing a cart with bottles and cans; asked prayer for his mother (Etta) who has cancer, and for his own life – he is homeless, staying with a friend for now; Torre felt led to tell him that the Lord wants him to quietly confess his sins; after a minute of silence, Torre led him in a prayer for forgiveness; Willie returned later, on his way back from the store, and said he felt today is a new beginning for him; he hopes to come to church tomorrow

+ Heather — teenage girl with orange hair – she seemed pleasantly surprised that we wanted to pray for her – she asked prayer for “strength”

+ Maurice — a man hurrying to the bus stop – said we could pray for him if we hurried; we prayed for the Lord’s provision for his life

+ Judy — was walking by as we were breaking down the table and chairs – she did not think she needed prayer because she prays on her own every morning; but she did accept a cross

David

Albany Intercessor

A Prayer Litany for the Gulf Oil Spill

This litany comes from the Episcopal diocese of the Central Gulf Coast:

A litany for the Gulf of Mexico in a time of crisis
By the Rev. Albert S. Kennington, Retired

The Officiant and People say responsively

Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams,

O whales and all that move in the waters.

All birds of the air, glorify the Lord,

praise him and highly exalt him forever.

Glorify the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous,

praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord,

praise him and highly exalt him forever.

The voice of the LORD is upon the waters;

the God of glory thunders; the LORD is upon the mighty waters.

The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice;

the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor.

O Lord, how manifold are your works!

in wisdom you have made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.

Yonder is the great and wide sea

with its living things too many to number,

creatures both small and great,

There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan,

which you have made for the sport of it.

You give it to them; they gather it;

you open you hand, and they are filled with good things.

You send forth your Spirit, and they are created;

and so you renew the face of the earth.

For the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, that they may be kept pure

as you created them.

Lord, have mercy.

For all who work on the waters that they be safe from harm; for

all who have been injured, for all who have died, and for all who

mourn.

Lord, have mercy.

For all who support their livelihood and the care of their families

and communities from the harvest of the waters,

Lord, have mercy.

For all who live along these waters and for their livelihood,

provide places of rest and recreation for others,

Lord, have mercy.

For all who explore the depths of the earth, even under the sea,

for the resources of your creation for the common good,

Lord, have mercy.

For all creatures of your making and for the wonderful mysteries

of natural habitats you have willed for them, that they be

protected from all dangers,

Lord, have mercy.

For all in authority over us, in the government of our nation, our

states, and communities, that they may serve your will for the

common good, and no other,

Lord, have mercy.

For all who work to preserve us from the dangers of this present

calamity, that they may be blessed with success and kept safe

from all harm,

Lord, have mercy.

For our deliverance from fear, anxiety, and anger,

Lord, have mercy.

For your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven,

Lord, hear our prayer.

Mercifully hear us, O Lord our God.

Let our cry come to you.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

h/t Kendall Harmon’s TitusOneNine blog and the Living Church Magazine

Using the Lord’s Prayer as a Model

A few days ago, James Gibson who writes This Day in the Word had a great reflection on the Lord’s Prayer:

Although the Lord’s Prayer has become a standard part of most church liturgies, Jesus’ real purpose was not to give us a specific prayer, but a pattern for prayer which keeps us focused on the holiness and majesty of God, his kingdom, his gracious provision for our lives, and his power to save us.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” When we enter into the presence of God, we should always, first and foremost, acknowledge his holiness and praise his name. The purpose of prayer is to commune with God, not simply to rattle off a litany of our wants and needs. God is the primary actor in prayer, for it is by his grace and the power of his Holy Spirit that we are drawn to him in the first place. We do not come to him under our own strength, for we are not capable of turning to him on our own. Our first priority in prayer, then, is to give him the praise that is due him, for he is the One who has initiated the conversation.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The hope of every believer is the consummation of God’s kingdom; the remaking of the whole created order according to his will and purpose. Not only heaven, but earth, as well, will one day reflect the fullness of the glory of God. We pray in anticipation of this hope being realized, giving expression to the hope of the whole creation.

The full entry is here.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 and “Pure Joy”

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, (2 Thessalonians 3:1)
      Jesus, we pray for Bishop Bill, Bishop David, and Bishop Dan of the Diocese of Albany, Bishop Harold of the Diocese of Down and Dromore, and Bishop Dave of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America: that through their ministry your word may run swiftly and be glorified among us.

and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. (2 Thessalonians 3:2)
      Holy Spirit, shut the mouths of all those who are unreasonable and wicked or lacking in faith. Protect these apostolic ministers and their dioceses.

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
      Jesus, thank you for your faithfulness; please establish and guide us around every trap the evil one would set for us.

And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. (2 Thessalonians 3:4)
      Father, we place our confidence in you: that you will establish us in Jesus so that we carry out the ministry he has given us to do.

Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the perseverance of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5)
      Holy Spirit, direct our hearts into the love of the Father and the perseverance of Jesus. Thank you.

Saturday: 23, 27; Leviticus 23:23-44; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18; Matthew 7:13-21
Sunday: 34; Leviticus 25:1-17; James 1:2-8,16-18; Luke 12:13-21

      Notes from the Front Line

Check out “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkx8WAycYAc&feature=related

***** Pray for the Diocesan Convention and for this diocese: pray that our common life will show forth the love of Jesus Christ.

***** The following article was written by our son Jonathan and posted on his blog http://www.gethsemaneprayer.blogspot.com/ last year but it spoke to Jean and me again today.
            Pure Joy
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2)
      What are your exact thoughts as you read this verse?
Mine include disbelief and despair; disbelief that this kind of attitude is possible, and despair that I fall so short of the standard. I desire to face my trials with an attitude of pure joy, but mostly I’m just trying to “get through.”
      This verse cuts through our self-deceptions and exposes the gaps in our faith. It brings us to confession: “Lord, forgive me for seeking my own way out of trials – for trying to close the gaps by myself; I always fall short. Show me how you desire to close the gaps in my faith and life.”
      3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
      My wife and I spend a lot of time teaching our daughter to persevere. She doesn’t like it, but she is learning to grasp the freedom that perseverance brings. When we cut short the lessons, she misses opportunities to grow in maturity and completeness. The gap remains.
      God loves you and me so much more than we love our own children. His fatherly desire is to move us into maturity and wholeness, so that we do not lack any good thing. He leads us through trials because he wants to give us more of himself, not less.
      God is a giver. He demonstrated that in sending Jesus the Christ to be our righteousness – to forever close the gap of eternity of between us and the Father. We face our trials with fear and despair because our fundamental perception of God is flawed. We view trials as God’s way of punishing us because he’s angry with us, but James faced trials with joy because he saw them as God-given opportunities to make us more complete in God’s love and grace – to make us whole.
      As we move through our trials, we preach to ourselves, and the God of love moves us deeper into pure joy: “Lord, my perception of you is as a taker, not a giver. I have heard of your great love for me, but in practice I take my trials as signs of your displeasure with me – not as signs of your desire to give me more of yourself and to make me whole. Teach me to receive your work in my life with joy. Teach me to receive you as a good father. Drive out the fear in my life with your perfect love.”
      In the Father’s love, Jonathan

Albany Intercessor

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, (2 Thessalonians 2:13)
      Jesus, thank you for choosing us and calling us to sanctification by the Holy Spirit and the truth. Help us express our love for one another and walk in your ways.

to which he called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:14)
      Father, help us enter into the glory of your son Jesus.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)
      Holy Spirit, please help us stand fast and hold to the teaching of the apostolic fathers — keep us from being blown about by every shifting wind of doctrine that comes and goes in the church and in the culture today.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
      Amen and Amen. Thank you for your working in our lives. Thank you for the way you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are calling the people of this diocese to a renewed life in you. Amen and thank you.

      A word received: Pray for my grace among the poor of the land.
      Pray for my mercy and peace for them.
      Pray that they will know my sheltering arms.
      Pray that my people will treat the alien and the stranger among them as I would.

Friday: 106:19-48; Leviticus 23:1-22; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17; Matthew 7:1-12
Saturday: 23, 27; Leviticus 23:23-44; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18; Matthew 7:13-21

      Notes from the Front Line

Check out “Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AezOmQ8vDk&feature=channel

***** Pray for the Diocesan Convention:
      Pray for good weather
      Pray there will be no black flies, mosquitoes, bears, or other unwanted wild life
      Pray for the Lord’s covering of the business meeting
      Pray for the Lord’s covering and anointing on the healing service
      Pray for wisdom and discernment and your word, Lord, for all those who minister at the Diocesan Convention.

Albany Intercessor

Quotable: JC Ryle – How to read the Bible

A great set of suggestions to help us grow in reading / applying Scripture:

1) Read the Bible with an earnest desire to understand it.

2) Read the Scriptures with a simple, childlike faith and humility.

3) Read the Word with a spirit of obedience and self-application.

4) Read the Holy Scriptures everyday.

5) Read the whole Bible and read it an orderly way.

6) Read the Word of God fairly and honestly.

7) Read the Bible with Christ constantly in view.

~ J.C. Ryle

Practical Religion, “Bible Reading”, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1998], 131-33.

From here. h/t Trevin Wax, Kingdom People

A Prayer for Evening – Jeremy Taylor

Visit, I beseech Thee, O Lord, this habitation with Thy mercy, and me with Thy grace and salvation. Let Thy holy angels pitch their tents round about and dwell here, that no illusion of the night may abuse me, the spirits of darkness may not come near to hurt me, no evil or sad accident oppress me; and let the eternal Spirit of the Father dwell in my soul and body, filling every corner of my heart with light and grace. Let no deed of darkness overtake me; and let Thy blessing, most blessed God, be upon me for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

… Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667), Holy Living [1650], in The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, D.D., v. III, London: Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans, 1847, p. 40 (see the book; see also Isa. 9:2; Eph. 5:11; more at Blessing, Grace, Light, Mercy, Prayers,Salvation, Security)

From Eric Swensson’s Awakenings blog

Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)
      Lord Jesus, please help me get my priorities and trust in right order. Help me each day to make you my Lord as well as my savior, and to trust you in what you are doing in my life.

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26)
      Father, help me take into my heart and mind the value you place on my life: you sent your son Jesus to die for me, and you sent the Holy Spirit to adopt me as your son. Thank you.

“Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:27)
      Holy Spirit, please help me cast all my cares on Jesus who cares for me.

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:28-29)
      Jesus, please help me see things from your perspective — to see with eyes of faith and understanding.

“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30)
      Father, thank you for providing for us.

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Matthew 6:31)
      Father, you know what we need.

“For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:32)
      Father, help us receive what you are providing.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
      Jesus, please help me seek out what is of true and lasting value — help me daily live into the kingdom of God.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34)
      Holy Spirit, please help me carry this day’s cross and leave tomorrow in your care. Thank you.

Thursday: 74; Leviticus 19:26-37; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; Matthew 6:25-34
Friday: 106:19-48; Leviticus 23:1-22; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17; Matthew 7:1-12

      Notes from the Front Line

Check out “Seek Ye First The Kingdom Of God” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH8bV7rUVaU

***** To all who support the Welcome Home Initiative with Prayer, we thank you.

      Our next Welcome Home Initiative is May 24-26. It is time to intercede for the Lord to saturate every part of this ministry for healing of those broken by combat in body, soul and spirit.
      Please pray for each vet who the Lord desires to be at this WHI to respond to the call of the Holy Spirit. Pray that fear and anxiety over visiting past wounds will be overcome. Pray for financial resources for travel. (The program itself and room and board are provided free to them.)
      Pray for the Lord to arrange schedules and circumstances so as to make the way clear for each one to come.
      Pray for deep and lasting healing for each vet in attendance. Pray for the chains to fall off…chains of grief, guilt, fear, anger and rage, additions and suicide and more. Pray for the restoration of lives in Jesus Christ! He came to set the captives free! Hallelujah!

Albany Intercessor

Rest/Abide

Hebrews 4:1-3a (New Living Translation)
God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest.

Oh, Lord, our mundane distractions are legion. We sniff and burrow, scurry and chew. Catch us up and carry us as on eagle’s wings so that we may see with eyes of Christ and comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height of His love. Help us to rest in Your embrace and trust. Amen.

Pray for an Awakening in Your Church

• hundreds of people coming to Christ,
• old animosities being removed,
• marriages being reconciled and renewed,
• wayward children coming home,
• long-standing slavery to sin being conquered,
• spiritual dullness being replaced by vibrant joy,
• weak faith being replaced by bold witness,
• disinterest in prayer being replaced by fervent intercession,
• boring Bible reading being replaced by passion for the Word,
• disinterest in global missions being replaced by energy for Christ’s name among the nations, and
• lukewarm worship being replaced by zeal for the greatness of God’s glory.

from here

Matthew 6:19-24 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;” (Matthew 6:19)
      Holy Spirit, please help us place our trust in Jesus — help us find our footing on him. He is the rock that does not move or shake.

“but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20)
      Father, thank you for being who you are: a father who loves us and cares for us; thank you for loving us so much and for providing a home for us.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
      Jesus, you are the pearl of great price — help us treasure you in our hearts and value you and your ways above all others.

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.” (Matthew 6:22)
      Holy Spirit, please give us clarity of sight — keep our eye single upon Jesus.

“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:23)
      Jesus, we pray for your people who walk in darkness — let your great light come upon them.

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)
      Jesus, we cannot serve and be mastered by the culture of this age and also have you as our Lord: help us daily make the choice to follow you and serve you. Thank you.

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

Wednesday: 119:73-96; Leviticus 19:1-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28; Matthew 6:19-24
Thursday: 74; Leviticus 19:26-37; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; Matthew 6:25-34

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Please continue to pray for a speedy recovery for Mother Miriam and give thanks for all that God is doing with her and through her.

Jean used to sing “The Day Thou Gavest Lord has ended” as a lullaby to our children when we were in Africa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTeGSG50JBE&feature=related

***** To all who support the Welcome Home Initiative with Prayer, we thank you.
      Our next Welcome Home Initiative is May 24-26. It is time to intercede for the Lord to saturate every part of this ministry for healing of those broken by combat in body, soul and spirit.
      Please pray for each vet who the Lord desires to be at this WHI to respond to the call of the Holy Spirit. Pray that fear and anxiety over visiting past wounds will be overcome. Pray for financial resources for travel. (The program itself and room and board are provided free to them.)
      Pray for the Lord to arrange schedules and circumstances so as to make the way clear for each one to come.
            Please pray:
~      For the wisdom and direction of the Spirit for Fr. Nigel Mumford, Bishop David Bena and Noel Dawes and other members of the leadership team.
~      For Sandra Lester and the administrative details she oversees.
~      For discernment and compassion on the part of the team as the work in unity and with flexibility.
~      For sensitivity to the Spirit for intercessors, both on and off site.
~      For the staff of Christ the King Spiritual Life Center who so wonderfully prepare and care for our vets.
~      For the Daughters of the King who bless quilts and provide care baskets given to each participant.
~      For Eddie Clark, a former Marine, who will provide the entertainment on Tuesday night. This is a time of bringing laughter and release after a difficult day.
       ~For nice weather so the outside beauty and facilities can be appreciated and bring a measure of peace and healing.
~      For good support by the community of the closing ceremony on Wednesday morning ( May 26 at the Great Hall at Christ the King Center at 11:30 am.)
Pray that our vets would be greatly honored through this.
~      For the continued financial support for this ministry.
      Pray for deep and lasting healing for each vet in attendance. Pray for the chains to fall off…chains of grief, guilt, fear, anger and rage, additions and suicide and more. Pray for the restoration of lives in Jesus Christ! He came to set the captives free! Hallelujah!

Albany Intercessor

Regarding self-evaluation

Bill Johnson is pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, CA. Hundreds of people, mostly young, move to Redding to attend his three year course on healing prayer. He warns against becoming too absorbed with one’s spiritual shortcomings. This prayer is an excerpt from his book When Heaven Invades Earth.

Father, you know that I don’t do so well when I look inward, so I’m going to stop. I am relying on You to point out to me the things that I need to see.
I promise to stay in Your Word. You said that Your Word was a sword–so please use it to cut me deeply. Expose those things in me that are not pleasing to You. But in doing so, please give me the grace to forsake them.
I also promise to come before You daily. Your presence is like a fire. Please burn from me those things that are unpleasing to You. Melt my heart until it becomes like the heart of Jesus. Be merciful to me in these things.
I also promise to stay in fellowship with Your people. You said that iron sharpens iron. I expect You to anoint the “wounds of a friend” to bring me to my senses when I’m being resistant toward You.
Please use these tools to shape my life until Jesus alone is seen in me. I believe that You have given me Your heart and mind. By Your grace I am a new creation. I want that reality to be seen that the name of Jesus would be held in highest honor.

Leviticus 16:29-34

“This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you.” (Leviticus 16:29)
      Father, please help us recognize those days, those times and seasons, when we should turn to you in repentance and with prayer and fasting.

“For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.” (Leviticus 16:30)
      Holy Spirit, lead our clergy in coming before you and making atonement for our sins. We are a sinful people — help us come before Jesus in true and lasting repentance.

“It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.” (Leviticus 16:31)
      Jesus, please help us have Gethsemane days when we come to you in return and rest. Help us rest in your arms as we lay our sins before you.

“And the priest, who is anointed and consecrated to minister as priest in his father’s place, shall make atonement, and put on the linen clothes, the holy garments;” (Leviticus 16:32)
      Jesus, please help the clergy of this diocese put on the garments of salvation as they vest for service to you, and as they come to you pleading for us.

“then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tabernacle of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.” (Leviticus 16:33)
      Jesus, guide our bishops, priests and deacons as they come before you on our behalf. Help them cry out to you and plead the atonement you have made for us by your blood shed for us.

“This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year.” And he did as the Lord commanded Moses. (Leviticus 16:34)
      Holy Father, help our clergy honor and heed your holy statutes that you have given for your people to keep forever. Thank you.

Tuesday: 68:1-20(21-23)24-36; Leviticus 16:20-34; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 6:7-15
Wednesday: 119:73-96; Leviticus 19:1-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28; Matthew 6:19-24

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Please continue to pray for a speedy recovery for Mother Miriam and give thanks for all that God is doing with her and through her.

Check out “It Is Well With My Soul” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOKQu4-ZVlk&feature=fvw

***** “Tradition may be defined as an extension of the franchise. Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about. All democrats object to men being disqualified by the accident of birth; tradition objects to their being disqualified by the accident of death. Democracy tells us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our groom; tradition asks us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our father. I, at any rate, cannot separate the two ideas of democracy and tradition; it seems evident to me that they are the same idea. We will have the dead at our councils. The ancient Greeks voted by stones; these shall vote by tombstones. It is all quite regular and official, for most tombstones, like most ballot papers, are marked with a cross.” Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton, Doubleday Image Book, page 48 © 1908, 1936 by Dodd, Mead & Company

Albany Intercessor

A prayer of thanks and trust in God’s Providence

This prayer by Baptist pastor and blogger Trevin Wax, which he adapted from the Heidelberg Catechism,  makes a great complement to the prayer I posted yesterday by Pastor Scotty Smith.  I love the line “We trust in the power of your hand.”   I’m reminded of the closing verses of Psalm 62 which I read in my personal devotions on Saturday:

Ps 62:11-12
11    One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, 12    and that you, O Lord, are loving… (NIV)

Here is Trevin’s Prayer:

Faithful Father,
We praise you for your almighty and ever present power.
We trust in the power of your hand,
which upholds heaven and earth and all creatures.
We trust in the goodness of your rule
over leaf and blade,
rain and drought,
fruitful and lean years,
food and drink,
health and sickness,
prosperity and poverty
knowing that all things come to us
not by chance but from your fatherly hand.

Help us to be patient when things go against us,
thankful when things go well,
and confident for the future,
knowing that nothing will separate us from your love.

- Trevin Wax (adapted from the Heidelberg Catechism)

Trials can cause us to doubt God’s love and/or His power.  May the Lord help each of us cling to the knowledge of His Fatherly love and care even in the fiercest storms.

(Thanks again to Trevin Wax for his permission to freely post the wonderful prayers from his blog.)

New link on the sidebar: Scotty Smith’s Heavenward blog

As I note in the post below, I’ve recently become a big fan of Scotty Smith’s prayer blog:  Heavenward.

So, I’ve added it to the prayer blog section of the sidebar and really encourage our readers to check it out as a great resource in how to pour out one’s heart to God in various daily circumstances.

Scotty Smith’s prayers each day are always centered around a Scripture passage, and so, like my dear colleague Torre Bissell’s daily lectionary prayer posts, they can teach us how to use Scripture to shape our prayers.