Prayers: December 26, 2021

Prayers

Always be joyful. Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

• Thank God, for Christmas blessings, especially allowing us to worship him together as a church family.
• Thank God for His Word for it teaches us how to respond to the darkness in the world. Psalm 119:133
• Thank God for the stars on clear, cold nights – a reminder that He is Light.
• Thank God that even though we trudged through 2021 in uncertainty by the world’s standards, we still experienced the wonder of His love through those around us and can trust Him for our future.
• Pray for our families experiencing changes – for the joy and challenges of new babies and the sadness of having to let go of loved ones. May we experience peace as we acknowledge God’s Hand over everything.
• Pray that we may see God’s presence in the faces of all we meet.
• Pray for the children who have received shoebox gifts, that seeds of faith may be planted in their hearts.
• Pray for those suffering from weather catastrophes.
• Lord, have mercy on those suffering out of disobedience to your teachings.
• Pray for strength and perseverance for those dealing with coronavirus issues – the caregivers, those afflicted, those who are fearful. Trust God for His power to deal with this pandemic and that His name will be glorified, for His ways are not our ways.  Isaiah 55:9
• Pray for our church to stay true to the mission that God has given to every believer, to make disciples and trust that God is with us.
• Pray for those venturing out into the world, that God will guide their steps and keep them safe – for those who travel, for students on winter break, for job seekers and workers.
• Pray for our church to enter into the new year with boldness because we wear the armor of God. Ephesians 6:11

To Think About: 2021 Comes to a Close

We have just celebrated the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel, and the plan God made to save us from our sins. Our hearts are full of hope, peace, joy and love.  I hope we have not thrown these gifts out with the wrapping paper of Christmas, but instead, ponder how God has brought us through 2021 and how He wants us to bring Him glory in 2022.

²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4

Thank God that his plan for us, His children, is to have an eternity with Him.  “I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11

禱告事項

要常常喜樂，不住地禱告，凡事謝恩，因為這是神在基督耶穌裡向你們所定的旨意。

帖撒羅尼迦前書5:16-18

• 感謝神特別賜予聖誕節的祝福，讓我們作為教會大家庭一起敬拜祂。
• 感謝上帝的話語，因為它教導我們如何應對世界的黑暗——求你用你的話使我腳步穩當，不許什麼罪孽轄制我（詩篇 119:133 ）。
• 感謝神用晴朗寒夜的星星提醒我：祂是光。
• 感謝神！儘管世界的標準毫無定數，我們步履艱難地度過了 2021 年，然而周圍的人仍然帶給我們上帝奇妙的愛，並成爲我們對未來的信靠。
• 為我們正在經歷變化的家庭禱告——為新生兒帶來的喜悅和挑戰禱告，為失去親人的悲傷禱告。願我們感謝神掌管一切，感謝他在其中賜的平安。
• 祈求讓我們可以在每一位遇到的人的臉上看到上帝的同在。
• 為收到鞋盒禮物的孩子禱告，願福音的種子種在他們心中。
• 為那些遭受氣象災害的人禱告。
• 主啊，憐憫那些因悖逆你的教導而經歷磨難的人。
• 為應對冠狀病毒的人禱告，無論是看護者、病人、膽怯的人，願他們有力量和毅力面臨所處的環境。相信上帝應對這種流行病的能力，相信他的名會得到榮耀，因為他的方式不同於我們的方式。（以賽亞書 55:9 ）
• 求主保守我們的教會忠心持守神賦予每一位基督徒的使命，在普天下傳福音，使萬民成為門徒並相信神與我們同在。
• 為在世界上無畏前行的人祈禱，求上帝會指引他們的腳步並保護他們行程的安全——為旅行的人、寒假中的學生、求職者和正在崗位的工人。
• 為我們的教會身披神所賜的軍裝勇敢地跨入新的一年禱告。（以弗所書 6:11）

思考：2021 年的歲尾年終

我們剛剛慶祝了耶穌——以馬內利（神的同在）的誕生，接受了上帝為拯救我們脫離罪惡而製定的計劃。 我們的心充滿了盼望、和平、喜樂和愛。 我希望我們並沒有將禮物隨聖誕節的包裝紙一起扔掉，而是思考上帝怎樣引領我們度過 2021 年，他希望我們如何在 2022 年榮耀他。

        ²¹ 如果你們聽過他的道，領了他的教，學了他的真理， ²² 就要脫去你們從前行為上的舊人，這舊人是因私慾的迷惑漸漸變壞的； ²³ 又要將你們的心志改換一新， ²⁴ 並且穿上新人，這新人是照著神的形象造的，有真理的仁義和聖潔。（ 以弗所書 4）

感謝耶和華 我們的神對我們、他的孩子們的計劃是與他同在永恒中。“耶和華說：‘我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。’” （耶利米書 29:11）