Gracious God our Father,

You chose us before the foundations of the world to be holy and without fault in you. And because you love us, you forgive and forget all our flaws and failures and view us as blameless when we return your love by obeying you. You have promised to give us whatever we ask for in Jesus’ name.

With all that in mind, I ask you to bless my friend today. If my friend is tired, please fill him / her with your energy. If my friend is ill, heal him / her. If my friend is depressed, lift his / her head with hope.

Let my friend feel your love in a word from a friend, the smile of a stranger and  the colors of the sky. Help him / her believe that you watch every step, hear every thought and care about every detail of his / her life – because you do. And we thank you. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Supporting verses:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Ephesians 1:3, 4

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13, 14

“But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill.” Psalm 3:3, 4

 Father in Heaven, Abba Daddy,

Our economy is in trouble and no one knows when or if it will recover. Many of us have lost jobs, daily announcements of more down-turns frighten us and the price of basic necessities increases daily. 

Fear grips us.

But, Lord, we will not be afraid.

You are our rock; you are our security; we dwell in the shelter of your wings. Over and over your Word promises you will always be with us and help us if we obey your words, and we choose to believe what you say. We choose to trust you no matter how things look. You will help and bless us.

            God, please bless us.

We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Supporting verses:

“He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:4

“So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” Hebrews 13:6

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

Today’s news reports that at least 100,000 Christians have left Egypt since March. These fleeing Christians are the wealthier of the Coptic Christians who could afford to seek safety, but more of our brothers and sisters don’t have a way to leave the country. They still face danger. Let’s remember them and other suffering parts of Christ’s body in prayer. (You’ll find links to stories after the prayer.)

Merciful God Who loves us, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  

          Our hearts cry out to you for our brothers and sisters around the world who are being tortured and killed for their beliefs. Teach us how to pray effectively since we’ve never experienced what they’re going through. We’ve never felt the depth of fear and desperation that come with persecution. Please guide us as we pray.

Lord, knowing that you answer every prayer asked in the name of your Son Jesus’, and believing that every Christian around the world is precious in your site, we ask for endurance and swift release for those in prison. We pray comfort and safety for Christians who have lost parents and children and spouses. We ask supernatural peace for the ones whose pulse pounds with fear at the sound of a footstep. We plead for courage for the Christians who know they haven’t the strength to stand without your help. Help them all, Jesus! Keep them from the evil one.

We pray for the Christians who are denied jobs simply because others know they believe in you. Please supply a way for them to work and feed themselves and their families. Lift their heads and give them hope. Release them from worry by showing them how to trust in you. Prompt good people who aren’t Believers to have sympathy and lend a hand, just as you prompted so many to help Jews in WW II.

Thank you that a few of our brothers and sisters can leave places where they aren’t safe, but we know that many more will have to stay. Supernaturally open their eyes to believe in the good they are accomplishing for your kingdom even as they suffer.

Lord, our hearts break as we pray this, but we know you’ll be with them. You’ll never leave them or forsake them.

Your Word says we are all one body. Part of our own body is suffering. We who are blessed with safety and security feel helpless to do anything to help them, but we are not. Prayer works miracles. Thank you for giving us the gift of prayer. Don’t let us forget to keep praying. Amen.

 Supporting verses:

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:12,13

“I do not ask that you take them out of this world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” John 17:15

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” John 15:16

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5c

Links:

Today’s ANS news story on Egyptian exodus of Christians:   http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11090177.htm

Story and photos from 10-9-11 The Christian Post where 200 Christians were wounded and 26 killed during an attack on a church:

http://global.christianpost.com/news/attack-on-egypts-coptic-christians-leave-26-dead-200-wounded-photos-57745/

Sudan bishop pleads for prayer against genocide:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/pray_for_the_persecuted_church/2011/06/sudan-christians-facing-genocide-bishop-pleads-for-worldwide-prayer.html

Abba Father, Creator of the Universe, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

               You thought of us while your Spirit hovered over the formless mass that became our earth -- before you spoke the first word of creation. Ideas darted and simmered in your mind and you saw our faces and desired relationship with us. Even then. Even before we ever were.

Because you wanted relationship, you created us with the ability to choose our destiny. To decide to return your love -- even though you knew we could never fully understand your agape love. Never really return it.

You were Immanuel, God with us. You walked with the first humans in the garden, speaking with them face to face. Loving them fervently. Continuing to love them after they chose separation from you.

We can’t comprehend that kind of love. We don’t ‘get’ why you still wanted relationship with Mankind. But you did. You still do.

And because you still pursue relationship with us, you sent your Son to the cross, and now his Spirit lives inside each of us who believe in you. You long for us to love you and acknowledge you with our words and thoughts. Your heart beats with eagerness when we look to you. When we turn away we break your heart.

Teach us to love you, Lord. Really love you. Prevent us from focusing on other things and allowing our love for you to fade. Soften our hearts. Increase our faith. Open our eyes to who you are and ways we can please you. Teach to pursue you with fervor. Help us rest and allow you to fill us with contentment so we can enjoy your love. Remind us to magnify and revere your name. Nudge us to speak your praises. We love you, Lord, and we pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Supporting verses:

“. . . He chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” Ephesians 1:4a

“And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” Genesis 3:8a

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30