Prayers: July 18, 2021

Prayers

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

• Thank you, Lord, for taking note of all that I do, good and bad, and loving me just the same.
• Thank you, Lord, for the hope I can have in You and Your just ways.
• Thank you, Lord, for being my friend. John 15:15
• Thank you, Lord, that nothing is impossible for You, even reigning in the current pandemic.
• Thank you, Lord, that I can watch how a seed turns into a flower – your miracles at work.

Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ:

• For those recovering from medical treatment, that the Lord may touch them with His healing power
• For those who are struggling through storms, fires, and evil in the world
• For protection for our missionaries who face physical harm but still have the courage to answer their calling
• To know the right words to use to reach out to family members who need to experience God’s love and power
• For protection for those stepping out into the world again after pandemic restrictions have been lifted
• That we make our lives count as an offering to God, carrying out the ministry plans He has for us
• For safety for those taking summer vacations
• That we do not withhold forgiveness from one who has wronged us, but forgive, and leave the one who hurt us in God’s hands. He is the only one capable of judging a heart accurately and allowing just consequences for sinful actions
• To be models of peacemaking in a world that is quick to show signs of disagreement

Pray for CCC:

• Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1
• For wisdom and courage to carry out plans to worship in the church building again
• That our leaders not be discouraged at the tasks stretching ahead of them, remembering that God works with them
• Thank God for our staff being able to reopen the church offices
• That we remain steadfast in pursuing what God wants us to do, for all things are possible if we are working in His Plan
• To have compassion for those who need help or an encouraging word
• That we continue to examine ourselves to ensure the Holy Spirit is dwelling in us and keeping us faithful. 2 Corinthians 13:5

To Think About: We often have questions that can rock our faith such as ‘what is love’?  When Jesus invites us who are weary to come to him for rest, He is talking about a rest in which we feel fully accepted, fully enjoyed, and fully seen for who we are.  Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus is offering us a rest in which we have nothing to fear and nothing we have to go after. Jesus loves us so much He wants us to be able to fully relax   Such perfect rest demonstrates perfect love from Jesus.

禱告事項

感謝主每日同行：

• 感謝神，雖然你注意到我所做的一切，不管是好是壞，都一樣愛我。
• 感謝主，因我能有對你的盼望和你公義的道路。
• 感謝主，因为你是我的朋友。（約翰福音15:15）
• 感謝主，因爲在你沒有難成的事，即使在目前的流行病中，你依然掌權。
• 感謝主，讓我能看到到一粒種子如何長成花朵 —— 這是你奇妙的作爲。

為主內弟兄姊妹禱告：

• 為從治療中康復的弟兄姊妹禱告，願主醫治的大能觸摸他們。
• 為掙扎在暴風雨、火災、以及人爲製造的惡劣事件中的人們禱告。
• 求神保守我們的宣教士平安，儘管他們面對身體的傷害時仍然有勇氣回應對神的呼召。
• 求主讓我們知道用合適的言語向需要經歷神慈愛的家人傳福音。
• 求神保守在流行病限制取消后再次走進世界去工作的弟兄姐妹。
• 求神讓我們把生命獻上為祭，履行主給我們的事工計劃。
• 為那些在暑期休假的弟兄姐妹的安全禱告。
• 願我們不要記恨那得罪我們的人，要饒恕他們，把傷害我們的人交在神的手中。唯有他能判斷人心，讓罪惡面臨公義的審判。
• 在這個易於看到分歧的世界上，讓我們成爲和平的使者

為教會的需要禱告：

• 耶和華啊，榮耀不要歸於我們，不要歸於我們，要因你的慈愛和誠實歸在你的名下！（詩篇115:1 ）
• 為我們有智慧和勇氣再次回到教會恢復實體敬拜禱告。
• 願我們的領袖不要為擺在他們面前的任務感到氣餒，要記住上帝與他們同工。
• 感謝神讓我們的員工能夠重新開放教會辦公室。
• 願我們堅定不移地追求神要我們做的事，因為如果我們照他的計劃工作，萬事皆為可能。
• 讓我們幫助需要幫助的人，鼓勵需要鼓勵的人。
• 讓我們總要自己省察有信心沒有，也要自己試驗，以確保聖靈住在我們裡面，使我們持有忠誠信靠的心。（哥林多後書 13:5）

思考：我們常常遇到足以動搖我們信念的問題，例如：“什麼是愛？”。在農夫撒種的比喻中，當耶穌邀請我們這些疲倦的人到他那裡休息時，在他心意中的“休息”能讓我們感到完全被接納、完全享受並全然完全看到我們自己是誰那時，耶穌說：“ ……  凡勞苦擔重擔的人，可以到我這裡來，我就使你們得安息。 29 我心裡柔和謙卑，你們當負我的軛，學我的樣式，這樣你們心裡就必得享安息。因為我的軛是容易的，我的擔子是輕省的。”     在耶穌為我們提供的安息中，我們毫無懼怕，也沒有索求。耶穌如此愛我們，他希望我們能夠完全放鬆，如此完美的安息表明了耶穌完美的愛。（馬可福音4:1-20）