Over the summer, We started a brief time of prayer before the morning worship service. It is a time for the church to gather and pray specifically for the worship service. The following are some suggestions about praying for worship that others may use and be blessed by. It is not an exhaustive list by any means.
Read MoreThe prince of preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, wrote: "Groanings which cannot be uttered are often prayers which cannot be refused." It makes one consider if he was thinking about Psalm 5 when he penned those brief words. Though brief, they say much because there are times in the life of a Christian when the words do not come as accurately as the heart seeks to convey.
Read MorePrayer: Our God, you who are great and glorious, the one true God of heaven and earth, we bow before your throne, acknowledging your majesty today, knowing that we are creatures of dust, prone to go our way and not yours. We are ashamed, our Father, at how easily we are turned aside to worthless things. We confess that we often give too much energy to things that will pass away. We confess that we often use our time for useless things and fail to seek your kingdom and righteousness with all our hearts. Father, please forgive us and help us. We are weak, but you are strong. The world, the flesh, and the devil easily overrun us. Yet, you have promised to help us, giving us your Spirit, protecting us from our enemies and ourselves. Father, we thank you that you love your church as a father loves the bride of his son. We thank you that you defend your church against those who hate her and seek to ruin her. We thank you for protecting your church from enemies within and without.
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for July 14, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 21.4
IV. Prayer is to be made for things lawful,a and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter;b but not for the dead,c nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.d
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for July 13, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 21.3
III. Prayer with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship,a is by God required of all men;b and that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son,c by the help of his Spirit,d according to his will,e with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance;f and, if vocal, in a known tongue.g
Read MoreAnother new year is upon us, and if you are anything like me, you take the time to reflect on the previous year and make plans and goals for the new one. In some sense, this time of the year allows you to hit the "reset" button on your lives and adjust what needs to be changed related to your families, your relationship with Christ, and other essential matters. It is the second item, your relationship with Christ, that I want to focus on briefly, especially related to the fundamentals of the Christian life.
The basics are very important. If you watch sports, you will notice that when athletes competing at the highest level are in a tight spot and the game is on the line that their fundamentals are what gets them that hit that is needed or golf shot within feet of the hole, or the important pass to win the game. So much depends on the basics – the fundamentals. It is no different in the Christian life.
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for December 13, 2022
Joshua 9
Key points:
The deception of the enemy
The failure of the leadership
The Morning Devotional for August 2, 2022
Genesis 32
Key points:
The fear of Esau.
Jacob wrestles with God.
The Morning Devotional for July 5, 2022
Genesis 18
Key points:
The restated promise of a son
The response of Sarah
Abraham intercedes for Sodom
Q. 107. What doth the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer teach us?
A. The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen,” teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him; and in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen.
Matt. 6:13; Dan. 9:4-9, 16-19; 1 Chr 29:10-13; 1 Cor. 14:16; Rev. 22:20-21.
Read MoreQ. 106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?
A. In the sixth petition, which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” we pray, that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.
Matt. 6:12; Matt. 26:41; 2 Cor. 12:7-8.
Read MoreQ. 105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?
A. In the fifth petition, which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” we pray, that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.
Matt. 6:12; Ps. 51:1-2, 7, 9; Dan. 9:17-19; Luke 11:4; Matt. 18:35.
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