Prayers: April 3, 2022

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 you, God:

• for perfectly knowing each of us
• for freedom to choose whether or not to obey you – humble us that we may choose You over ourselves and enjoy a full life.
• that we are fully forgiven through your Son, Jesus
• that Your arm is strong enough to save and your ear sharp enough to hear us. Isaiah 59:1
• for always seeing us, not just in one moment of time but how we fit into Your eternity

Pray:

• for those who are struggling with health concerns; may God provide healing care
• for those who are homebound; may they see joy in God’s creation from their window
• for Eva, Pastor Charles’ niece, who within a few days of contracting COVID, is in ICU care.  Pray for others who are still being infected adversely with COVID.
• that those on travel may be enriched and rejuvenated; that they may have safe and carefree passage
• that God would give wisdom and insight to CCC leaders to always move in a way that glorifies Him
• for the respective congregations and that God would work powerfully through each ministry
• for humility in our hearts and that God would continue to remind us of His purpose for us as we serve
• that we would humble ourselves so that we can truly serve and honor God.
• that God will comfort each man, woman, and child hurting in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine. Pray that they will be reminded that “it is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8, ESV)
• that as a child of God and a friend of Jesus, we naturally will live according to His wisdom and values, not the world’s. James 3:15-17
• that our defenses will always be on guard for the spiritual warfare and evil lurking in the world

To Think About:

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5b It seems that we have experienced an extra-long night in recent times.  When it looks like dawn is coming, additional loss occurs that causes us to be unsettled.  We wonder when will morning come and when will we experience joy.  Taking a deeper look at what joy means, a settled state of contentment, confidence, and hope, often resulting in praise, we find that God can lead us to morning at any time.  Although our circumstances may not change overnight (they are out of our control), our attitude can change.  Even when we don’t know what the future holds, we can experience joy because we know who holds the future. “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22–23). Each morning God brings us new reasons to praise Him, and new opportunities to trust Him.

禱告事項

“要常常喜樂， 不住的禱告， 凡事謝恩。因為這是 神在基督耶穌裏向你們所定的旨意。”

帖撒羅尼迦前書 五章 十六至十八節

感謝神

• 完全了解我們每個人。
• 神給我們選擇的自由是否順服你——我們謙卑放棄己意、順服你的心意，就能享有豐盛的生活。
• 通過你的兒子耶穌，我們得到了完然的赦免。
• 耶和華的膀臂並非縮短不能拯救，耳朵並非發沉不能聽見（以賽亞書 59:1）。
• 時常看顧我們，並不只是在我們進入你的永恆的那一刻。

祈禱

• 正在尋求醫治的肢體滿有神的憐憫和醫治。
• 居家療養的肢體能透過窗外神的創造而喜悅。
• 辜牧師的侄女伊娃病情好轉，她在感染新冠病毒幾天后就進入了重症監護室；也為其他感染了新冠病毒的人禱。
• 旅行中的人可以體力充沛；他們能有安全可靠旅途。
• 神賜給我們教會的領導同工有智慧和遠見，始終以榮耀他的方式帶領教會。
• 三堂會眾願意讓神藉助每項事工在整個教會中施展大能。
• 我們謙卑己心，願神會繼續提醒我們服事的目的。
• 我們要謙卑自己，才能真正侍奉和榮耀神。
• 上帝會安慰在烏克蘭衝突中受傷的每個男人、女人和孩子。禱告他們會被提醒“走在你前面的是主。他會和你在一起；他不會離開你或拋棄你。不要害怕或沮喪”（申命記 31:8）
• 我們做天父的孩子和耶穌的朋友，使我們自然而然地遵行聖經教導的智慧和價值觀生活，而不是跟從這個世界，這樣的智慧不是從上頭來的，乃是屬地的，屬情慾的，屬鬼魔的。在何處有嫉妒、紛爭，就在何處有擾亂和各樣的壞事。唯獨從上頭來的智慧，先是清潔，後是和平、溫良、柔順、滿有憐憫、多結善果、沒有偏見、沒有假冒（雅各書 3:15-17）。
• 我們時刻驚醒，穿戴神所賜的屬靈軍裝，防禦世上隱而不見的屬靈爭戰和邪惡勢力。

思想

        因為他的怒氣不過是轉眼之間，他的恩典乃是一生之久，一宿雖然有哭泣，早晨便必歡呼（詩篇 30:5b）。最近我們好像經歷了一個特別漫長的夜晚。在黎明來臨的時候，就會發生額外的損失，這令我們不安。我們好奇什麽時候天才是早晨，何時才有喜樂臨到我們？從更深遠的方式了解喜樂的含義，它是一種持續滿足、自信和有盼望的狀態，通常會帶來讚美，我們發現神可以隨時帶領我們進入早晨。 雖然我們的環境可能不會在一夜之間改變（它們超出了我們的掌制），但我們的態度可以改變。 即使我們不知道未來會怎樣，我們也可以體驗快樂，因為我們知道誰擁有未來。 “我們不致消滅，是出於耶和華諸般的慈愛，是因他的憐憫不至斷絕。每早晨這都是新的，你的誠實極其廣大（耶利米哀歌 3:22-23）。”  每天早上神都會給我們帶來新的機會來讚美他、信靠他。