Hebrews 12:2Please pray with me:
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Father in heaven,
You created the earth and all the beauty that is beyond our comprehension. You created the sciences: physics, calculus and trig, physiology, botany, chemistry—the intricacies of how You formed the earth and all that's here.
Throughout time, as we have learned more, we have been enamored, fascinated, intrigued, and dumbfounded at the comprehensive coordination and integration of every part of Your creation. Thank you for the complexity which has captured and captivated our attention. Praise and worship belong to You alone.
Yet, even in light of all this evidence, we have congratulated ourselves for our science, our discoveries, our understanding. We have become proud and confident. We have even made up scenarios to deal with those elements that we don't understand. ...like evolution.
We choose our own way of thinking and have chosen to veer away from Your Word rather than to wait for more to be revealed. We proclaim the possibilities from our own imaginations to be truth, and then go about our way to prove we are correct. Have mercy Father.
Many of us have chosen to believe Your Word. We have held fast. We have said in our hearts that You are the Creator. But we have done so silently. Father, the cost of speaking out has risen to the point that now, our livelihoods are at stake. It has gone on so long that the exercise of free speech can cost us our jobs, our future, and even our safety.
Forgive us for years of silence. Forgive us for not taking a stand early in this battle. Forgive us for not praying for the protection of this nation against the pride that has blossomed over the decades.
So now we sit silently, believing in our hearts, afraid of the media, afraid of scorn, afraid of the consequences of speaking out. Afraid for ourselves and our families. Forgive us for attending to our fear. Your Word clearly states:
2 Timothy 1:7We need You. We need Your Spirit. We need to do as Jesus did and make the sacrifices as led by Your Spirit. We need courage and we especially need to clearly hear Your direction so that we speak respectfully, truthfully and in the tone that You direct. We need to clearly know Your timing, Your words, Your way.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Father, this is really scary. We need Your confidence. We need courage that we cannot find within ourselves. We need stalwart determination to do Your will, to "march forth" in the knowledge and faith that You will go before us and that the battle belongs to YOU!
Truly, how can this happen, except we spend time with You in prayer? Call us to deep prayer and worship. Call us before Your throne of grace to find the help we need.
Holy Spirit, press us. Crush us with a knowing on how to proceed. As you pressed each of us to realize that we are sinners, press us to seek Your path in prayer. Grant us the healing in our spirit that would dispel any fear or hesitation. May we pray urgently to know Your will for us. Saturate us with diligence and determination. May we walk forth in quiet confidence.
Jesus, You sacrificed Your life...at a young age. You endured the separation from Your Father to bear our sins. You suffered humiliation, ridicule and the physical pain of the cross. Yet Your Word tells us that for the joy set before You, You did so willingly.
This is such a hard thing. Father, how will Your church, here in the U.S. rise up to do this? Teach our pastors. Teach Pastor __________ about sacrifice. Work in his heart to lead and guide us. Jesus, You are the Author and Finisher of our faith...move in Pastor ________ —that his faith becomes profound.
Father, around the world, there are many who are forced to watch as their children are tortured, maimed and raped. They are daily giving up their lives, even death on the cross, rather than give up their faith. Here in the U.S. we are insulated in our comfort and we remain silent as our freedoms are being rescinded one by one. Forgive us. Invigorate us.
Father, many of us have given our tithes and offerings to You from our comfort...especially here in the U.S. We have given in our plenty, holding back so that we always have enough. We surround ourselves with our prosperity. We seek the physical desires rather than the spiritual depth that You have for us.
We believe that You want us to enjoy our prosperity. We are prosperous. How do we share all that You have given us?
There are many in the U.S. who have stood up. There are many who made these sacrifices. They have been publicly mocked and stripped of all they have. Show us how to pray for these people. There are those in the legal profession who stand for Your principles and laws. Bring us to pray for them! There are organizations that seek to establish this nation and fight for the society that You outline in Your Word. Bring us to give liberally and sacrificially to them!
Our pastors in the U.S. need the conviction of Your Spirit to speak with authority and give their congregations the courage to move in sacrifice. This is a hard prayer as we have become so soft. We have become complacent. We have protected our physical comforts. Forgive us. Help us change. Help us to be willing to help others to give and share what You have given to us.
Equip our pastors to find those words that would give us courage. Show us the "joy set before us" that we would stand and live for Christ with all that we have. Help us to know that it ALL belongs to You. Show us how to seek You and be diligent with the wealth that surrounds us. Saturate us with Your wisdom that we may go forth with confidence.
In Jesus’ Name.
***These prayers are my own and the content does not reflect the philosophy or policies of any organization. They are offered in good faith that others may find them helpful in their prayer life and that the Church of Jesus Christ may be found faithful in the day of His coming.
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