Prayers: May 1, 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 bringing people into our lives that bless us just by being
• for sunshine which lifts our spirits
• for doing a new thing for us. Isaiah 43:18-19
• for the blessing of family. Increase their faith. Protect them from falling into temptation. Grant them the opportunity to shine a light in the darkness and lead others to you. Comfort them that they need not be anxious about anything, but be able to rest in your complete sovereignty.
• for being present wherever we go

Pray:

• for those who are ill
• for those who are homebound or hospitalized
• for Eva, Pastor Charles’ niece, who is making small improvements as doctors move her out of comatose state during COVID treatment.  Pray for others who are still being infected or quarantined due to COVID.
• that we may “be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).
• for God to help us take care of the space and the people around us
• for those mourning the loss of loved ones.
• that we will be deeply rooted in God’s Word so we may act wisely.  2 Timothy 3:16-17
• for the safe resumption of in-person meetings in the near future – Wah Luck Bible Study, Restaurant Fellowship
• for our missionaries who struggle with COVID and sometime-hostile conditions
• for in-person summer programs resuming
• for protection from the spiritual warfare going on in our midst
• that we may pray and act rather than think our own thoughts and act
• that God will provide peace, comfort, and reconciliation for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. Be with those who are anxious, fearful and bereaved.  We fervently cry out for an end to this conflict trusting in God’s mercy and compassion.

To Think About:

The earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:5 If ever we needed a reminder of our need for gratitude to God despite what’s happening around us, this might be a good verse to dwell on.  In fact all of Psalm 33 describes God’s character and “unfailing love” for which we should be thankful and joyful: His majesty in creation, His blessing on His people, His knowledge, His care, and His power and goodness. We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. Psalm 33:20-22.  We may feel loss for a moment but we have a lifetime of joy on which we can count.

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：

• 讓我們的身邊有人環繞，使他們成爲我們的祝福。
• 讓陽光振奮我們的精神。
• 為我們做一件新事。（以賽亞書 43:18-19）
• 祝福家人、加增他們的信心、保護他們免受誘惑；賜他們有機會在世界的黑暗中發光，帶領他人接受福音；他們得著從你而來的安慰，不為任何事情憂慮，能在你完全的主權中蠻有平安。
• 無論我們走到哪裡，你都與我們同在。

祈禱：

• 生病的肢體和居家行動不便的弟兄姊妹滿有神的同在。
• 辜漢然牧師的甥女伊娃（Eva）治療新冠病毒感染的過程有明顯改善，在醫生解除了她的誘導昏迷狀態后，她目前的狀況略有好轉。也為其他仍因新冠病毒感染或隔離的人祈禱。
• 我們“要等候耶和華！當壯膽，堅固你的心！我再說，要等候耶和華！”（詩篇 27: 14）。
• 神幫助我們照顧周圍的人和環境。
• 神安撫失去親人帶來的哀痛。
• 我們深深紮根於神的話語中，使我們可以得以完全，預備行各樣的善事。（提摩太後書3:16-17）
• 將要恢復的實體團契聚會能安全進行——華樂大廈查經班、餐福團契
• 我們的傳教士在與新冠病毒抗爭和充滿敵意的環境作鬥爭中得勝有餘。
• 順利恢復實體進行的各項暑期事工。
• 在應對屬靈爭戰中，我們的心思意念得蒙神的保守。
• 我們不要心存私欲和行出於己意的行爲，凡事禱告尋求神的心意。
• 神為我們在烏克蘭的兄弟姐妹提供和平、安慰與和解；願神與那些焦慮、恐懼和失去親人的人同在。讓我們迫切地禱告呼求神以憐憫和同情結束這場衝突。

思考：

        遍地滿了耶和華的慈愛（詩篇 33:5）。不管周圍發生任何事情，我們曾經被提醒要感謝神，那麽這可能就是一節很好的經文，我們需要深入其中。事實上，整個詩篇第 33 篇都描述了神的品格和“永不放棄的愛”，我們應該為此感謝和歡喜：他在創造中的威嚴、他對他的子民的祝福、他的知識、他的關懷，以及他的能力和良善。我們的心向來等候耶和華，他是我們的幫助，我們的盾牌。我們的心必靠他歡喜，因為我們向來倚靠他的聖名。耶和華啊，求你照著我們所仰望你的，向我們施行慈愛（詩篇 33:20-22）。我們不免會暫時感到失落，但我們卻能數算一生的快樂。