Prayers: December 27, 2020

Prayers

Pray in thanksgiving for God’s presence in our lives:

• Thank you, Lord, for Jesus, the One who brought us Christmas to light our world and bring hope to our days.
• Thank you, Lord, for being my Shepherd and making me lie down in green pastures to refresh my soul.
• Thank you, Lord, that the strength needed to withstand life’s challenges comes from You, not me.
• Thank you, Lord, that when I pray You not only act around me, but within me.
• Thank you, Lord, that your Spirit is working within me today, helping me to believe the promises I have read in Your Word. Psalm 128:1-2

Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ:

• Those with ongoing health concerns. Pray that doctors will have wisdom to diagnose and provide treatment.
• Those in nursing or homebound care. Pray that a smile or kind word even communicated over the phone may be an encouragement.
• Those affected by the pandemic either as victims or caregivers. Pray that we wait on the Lord for He will renew our strength.  Isaiah 40:31  Even as we place hope in a COVID vaccine for our earthly safety, we must know the hope of Jesus who secures our heavenly eternity.
• That we may encourage others who are in despair – God oversees the course of events, and “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11
• That we may use our powerful tongues for building others up with the news of Jesus, not for comments of negativity.
• That the hearts of those with whom we share the gospel may be opened and receptive to God’s wonderful gift.

Pray for CCC:

• To realize we may still spread the Good News of Jesus Christ even through a pandemic which changes everything we used to do.
• That the Lord may open doors in 2021 for us to proclaim His message clearly and boldly. Colossians 4:3-4
• That we may be set apart in this world by doing things without grumbling and complaining which is the norm. When we live our lives in grateful obedience to God, we will shine “like stars in the sky.” Philippians 2:  14-15
• To be good neighbors even if it takes us out of our way
• For a time of refreshment between holidays – even though we’re still at home, may we do something fun and different!
• With thanksgiving for all the hands that helped with Christmas giving and outreach. May those who received experience the love and hope of our heavenly Father.
• Thank God for the opportunity to grow closer to God through the CCC ADVENTures experiences this month.

To Think About: 2020 is a year that many of us would like to put behind us quickly; but for Christians, no matter what our circumstances may be, our goal in life is to meet Jesus at the finish line where our eternity begins with him and God, our Father.  No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us. Philippians 3:13-14 TLB

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禱告事項

感謝主每日同行：

• 感謝主耶穌在聖誕節來到我們中間、照亮這個世界，給我們每天的生活帶來希望。
• 感謝主是我的牧者，使我安歇在青草地，讓我的靈魂甦醒。
• 謝謝主給我從你而來的力量，讓我在每日的征戰中靠你站立得穩。
• 謝謝主給我禱告的權柄；在我禱告時，你就在我心裏，不單是環繞在我身旁。
• 感謝主的霛今日在我裏面動工，幫助我相信你在詩篇128篇第1和第2節中賜給我的應許：凡敬畏耶和華、遵行他道的人便為有福！你要吃勞碌得來的，你要享福，事情順利。感謝神的話語！

為主內弟兄姊妹禱告：

• 為身體軟弱和接受治療的肢體禱告，也爲醫護人員有聰明智慧提供最好的診斷和治療方案。
• 為老人院或居家需要特別看護的長輩們禱告，盼望親人祝福的電話和微笑給他們鼓勵。
• 為在新冠病毒受感染的患者和醫護人員禱告；讓我們等候從上帝使我們得力和生命的更新（以賽亞書4：：31 但那等候耶和華的，必重新得力。他們必如鷹展翅上騰，他們奔跑卻不困倦，行走卻不疲乏。）；雖然我們把疫苗作爲每日生命安全的盼望，但是請不要忘記保守和賜給我們永生的耶穌基督才是真正的盼望。
• 讓絕望中的人在神的話語中得鼓舞，因爲神在高天之上查看萬事，他造萬物各按其時，成爲美好。（傳道書3：11）
• 禱告我們的嘴棄絕乖謬的言語，使神造的人口成爲福音的管道，有合宜的言辭，引導人在主裏得成長。
• 為福音朋友的心禱告，當我們帶領他們認識耶穌基督時，他們有願意向福音敞開和接受的心。

為教會的需要禱告：

• 雖然新冠病毒的流行改變了我們習慣了的生活，但願我們仍然要認識到我們可以在這當中傳揚福音。
• 求神繼續為我們教會打開2021年福音的大門，使我們有能力將神的話語傳講的清晰有力。（歌羅西書4：3-4）
• 讓我們不爲日常生活抱怨，可以將自己分別為聖，照著神的心意生活，以感恩的心領受和順服神，使神的心意從我們裏面發出光芒，如夜空中明亮的星辰。（腓立比書2：14-15 凡所行的，都不要發怨言、起爭論，使你們無可指摘，誠實無偽，在這彎曲悖謬的世代做神無瑕疵的兒女。你們顯在這世代中，好像明光照耀，）
• 禱告我們願意改變自己成爲別人的好鄰居。
• 讓我們在居家歡度年終節日裏，可以和家人過一個不平常而充滿快樂的假日。
• 感謝弟兄姊妹在聖誕節外展中的奉獻和給予，願接受禮物的人也收到了天父的愛和盼望。
• 感謝神藉著降臨節期的讀經禱告機會，使我們與神的關係更親近。

思考：我們迫不及待要將2020年置之腦後，但對于基督徒來説，無論環境如何，我們今生的終點就是要與耶穌相會，開始和耶穌基督與父神同在的永生。腓立比書3：13-14：“弟兄們，我不是以為自己已經得著了，我只有一件事，就是忘記背後，努力面前的，向著標竿直跑，要得神在基督耶穌裡從上面召我來得的獎賞。”