For the World

God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GBC will have people from everywhere. We need to pray for all of them.

From Whence?

Psalm 121

1 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.
8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.

Ask such protection upon GBC this date.

For The Week

FOund this at World Magazine. Thought it worth sharing and praying.

O, Lord, as we look ahead to the week before us, help us to understand that our times are in your hands. In all of the busy-ness, problem-solving, and hard work that are ahead of us this week, help us notice the signs of your love and grace that you place continually before us, if we only had eyes that would pay attention. Keep us safe this week, and may your work continue in the world and in us. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

Why not pray this when you are praying for GBC today, and this week.

Weakness

Psalm 38:8-10

I am benumbed and badly crushed; I groan because of the agitation of my heart.
Lord, all my desire is before Thee; and my sighing is not hidden from Thee.
My heart throbs, my strength fails me; and the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me. (NAS)

When you pray are you willing to be that "naked" in front of God? Prayer is, in part, about self-revelation -- it is about working with God to strip away the masks and reveal that which God wants from us -- and which we will find if we allow it, what we want as well.

When you pray today, and especially when you pray for GBC, work to be naked in front of God - completely and utterly.

Encourage

by Augustine of Hippo:

“God of our life, there are days
when the burdens we carry chafe
our shoulders and weigh us down; when the road seems dreary
and endless, the skies gray and threatening; when our lives have
no music in them, and our hearts
are lonely, and our souls have
lost their courage.

“Flood the path with light,
we beseech Thee; turn our eyes
to where the skies are full of
promise; tune our hearts to brave music; give us the sense of
comradeship with heroes and
saints of every age; and so quicken our spirits that we may be able
to encourage the souls of all who journey with us on the road
to life, to Thy honor and glory.”

What a great goal for GBC - "to encourage the souls of all who journey with us" Let's pray that together today.

Start The Day

Here is a pray of Martin Luther to start the day:

We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected us through the night from all danger and harm. We ask you to preserve and keep us, this day also, from all sin and evil, that in all our thoughts, words, and deeds we may serve and please you. Into your hands we commend our bodies and souls and all that is ours. Let your holy angels have charge of us, that the wicked one have no power over us.
Amen

Please include GBC in this prayer this morning.

Attitudes

Col 4:2 - Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;

When you pray, even when making petition and interecession, do you do so with an attitude of thanksgiving -- expecting God to grant that which you need and ask for? Do you do so, already being satisfied with that which God has granted? God cares for us, even when we don't feel cared for -- we need to cultivate an understanding of that fact and the faith to rely upon it.

As you pray for GBC today, know that God had provided.

Adminsitrative Note

Today, your humble blogger leaves for an extended overseas vacation. Prayer posts for each day of the trip exist and I will post them whenever I am able to get to the Interenet; however, I cannot promise it will be as regular or as timely as usual. Things will return to normal about August 16.