Week of Oct. 16-22, 2011

Almighty God, most Holy Father, it seems at times that our prayers bounce off the ceiling, and we wonder where You are and why You haven’t answered. You tell us in Your Word to keep asking, but it seems so often that the load we are carrying all by ourselves is a heavy load.
Let us remember at those times that we are filled with Your Holy Spirit. He reminds us of Your unfailing love. He reminds us to trust in You, but the choice is ours to make. So, we choose to trust You, Jesus. We choose to hope in You. We choose to believe that You will answer in Your time. We ask all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? …But I trust in your unfailing love.” (Psalm 13: 1-5) NIV

Week of Oct. 9-15, 2011

Heavenly Father, we thank You for giving us Your rest, as we learn to trust in You more each day. Help us to trade in our busyness for the peace that following You brings. Teach us Your ways, Lord, and show us the times we need to surrender our burdens to You. Teach us to be humble and gentle as You are. Thank You for lifting our burdens, Lord, and show us opportunities when we, too, can lift the burdens of others. Remind us to come to You for daily refreshment through prayer and reflection. You desire us not to be heavy-burdened, but rather to receive the blessings that come from obedience.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

(Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)

Week of Oct. 2-8, 2011

Merciful Father, as we make the journey of life, please keep reminding us that we can do nothing without You. You are our rock and safety, and we thank You for Your kindness, Your mercy, and Your faithfulness. Thank You, Father. We pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.



“Rest in God alone, my soul! He is the source of my hope; with Him alone for my rock, my safety, my fortress, I can never fall.”

(Psalm 62:5-6 Jerusalem Bible)

Week of Sept. 25 - Oct. 1, 2011

Dear Lord, I pray that my day may be blessed with the peace of finding little ways to slow the pace and quiet my soul. May this day be blessed with simple moments of thanksgiving, and the joy of knowing that You are present here within me. You bless me with every good gift from above. I ask that today I may come to know You better, and to seek to do Your will in my life. All honor and glory be Yours forever. I ask all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

"For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

Romans 11:36 (NIV)

Week of Sept. 18-24, 2011

Our Father, may we have a reverent and righteous fear of You. May we not pull away from You, but pray and search diligently to understand Your ways. We acknowledge and praise You for Your awesome sovereignty and omnipotence. I pray all this, in the precious name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”

(Psalm 111:10)

Week of Sept. 11 - 17, 2011

We pray today, Lord, that from the ashes will rise a new spirit of beauty and unity in America. Already, all across this nation our hearts have been knit together into a new tapestry of one America. Because of this tragedy, we have been bound together by a silver chord of hope and brotherhood and sisterhood. What was meant to drive us apart has really drawn us together. May we always remember. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

-Rev. Wintley Phipps

“For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39 (Jerusalem)

Week of Sept. 4 - 10, 2011

Father God, You are our light, our salvation, the strength of our life. Why then do we fret? You are our refuge in times of devastation. You are our hope. Forgive us for not trusting You completely. Console the distressed, give comfort to the elderly, refresh the relief workers struggling to restore order in the midst of the destruction of storms and quakes, give hope to the unemployed, and sufficient food to the hungry. We know that You walk with us through all the valleys that are before us. We release all concerns, all fears, all needs into Your loving care. We trust that You will give us the best solution whatever the situation. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.

“The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You have not forsaken those who seek You.”

Psalm 9:9-10 (New American Bible)