Praying Together

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
– Colossians 4:2, ESV
 

Pastor Dave has recently challenged our church to become more devoted to praying together. I am guilty of putting off prayer, of my actions and attitude revealing that prayer is not the priority it should be. In my own life, this is evidence of the pride of self-sufficiency. I think I can live this Christian life on my own when in reality I can do nothing good apart from the saving work of Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Through prayer we acknowledge our need for the power of God to work in and through us and in and through His church, and it’s also a means of developing a more intimate relationship with the Father which He has made possible through the work of Christ on the cross. How are we doing at responding to Dave’s exhortation to pray together more or to pray in general? Every Friday morning at 6:00am and 7:30am there is an opportunity to gather at the church for prayer. If these times don’t work for you, I encourage you to find a few friends and start a prayer group. Schedule a regular time to meet and pray for each other, for Westwood, for our community and country, for faithful churches around the world, and for God’s will to be done and His name to be glorified throughout all the earth. As political controversy and the Coronavirus rage around us and as the new school year begins, I can think of no better way to use this time and space than to offer up my own prayer. Will you pray with me?

Our good and gracious Father in heaven, we praise You now that though the times seem chaotic, You are always in control. No event in human history has ever come as a surprise to You, and from the beginning of time, You have been working all things together for Your good purposes. And You will continue to work in this way until Christ returns and brings about the consummation of all You’ve promised in Your word. Would You please help us this day to live in light of these truths? Please help us to trust in Your holy, perfect nature, in Your ability to carry out all You have proclaimed in Your word, and in Your faithfulness to Your word. And please help us to be faithful to You and united with our brothers and sisters in love. Lord, I pray now that You would stir our hearts to live for You above everything else in this world. Take first place in our hearts and make us bold witnesses in both word and deed of the saving and sanctifying work You’ve done in our lives through Jesus Christ. Temper our boldness with the same love and grace that You have shown us. Lord, please forgive us for where we have fallen short and sinned against You and against others who bear Your image. We repent and ask that You would continue to sanctify us and keep us from evil. Prepare our minds and hearts for battle against the evil forces of this world and against the flesh that still tempts us with pride, envy, lust, and hate. Thank You, God, that You have washed us clean by the blood of Christ and have given us all we need for life and godliness. The victory is Yours, and You have invited us to share in it. Thank You! We ask now for wisdom for our elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels. If they have not been reconciled to You, Lord, we ask that You would show them their sin and cause them to repent. We ask that they would lead us well for Your glory, and we ask that You would help us to honor them as authorities that You have placed over us. We ask that You would allow an effective treatment to be found for the Coronavirus, that those who are sick would be healed, and that those who are suffering would be comforted by Your comfort. And Lord, we ask that as a new school year begins in both school buildings and homes You would help us as parents, teachers, and mentors to equip our children mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for all they might encounter this year. We pray that they would know You as Father, know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and know Your Holy Spirit as their Helper. Strengthen their hands for good works, their minds to learn about this amazing world You’ve created, and their hearts to withstand the schemes of the devil and to take the love of Christ to all they meet. Please keep them safe from sickness, from those who would mean evil against them, and from the destructive nature of sin. Help us to trust You with their hearts, minds, and bodies, Father. Your greatness is more than we can comprehend, and we believe You are able to do all these things and more. “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.” (Romans 12:25-27, ESV)