Intercessory prayer is the purifying bath into which the individual
and the community must enter every day.
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
and the community must enter every day.
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
Before You Ask
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:7-8)
Many people think their prayers won’t work if they don’t utter them clearly enough, or fail to explain to God exactly what they mean, or don’t speak loudly enough to him with sufficient earnestness. But when this happens, prayer becomes so exaggerated that our Savior even forbids it.
Obviously Jesus does not want to discourage us from praying. His point is that when we pray we must have a sense of proportion. Once we have prayed, we must be quiet. We need to be like the farmer who has sown his seed. Help will come only when you are quiet in faith. Also in your sickness or with other needs, learn to be still and look to the Kingdom of God.
We can share our needs with the Father in a few words, without making a fuss, and rest assured that God already knows what we need and what he will do to help us. We don’t have to explain our requests in great detail to God, or try and make quite sure that he knows our needs. God knows about even the smallest matters and takes them straight into his heart. We can turn to him by glancing Heavenward, with no words at all. We can do this even when we pray about something concrete and tangible, or about something that specifically troubles us. We may realize that what we thought we needed is actually not necessary and that we can find a way right in the midst of how things are now.
This doesn’t mean that we just let things happen – as if everything will come of its own accord without our longing for it. Nor should we just cast a brief and hurried request at God’s feet. When this happens, we too easily lose sight of God, assume that everything comes to us without his help, and we forget to thank him. Then we cease to have a believing heart and are consequently not true children of God.
Jesus said, “Before you ask him.” Therefore we do need to make our requests known to him, otherwise many things will not be given that could have been given. It never displeases God when we come to him with our heartfelt requests. A real child asks for everything, knowing God has an ear for him. We should bring all our burdens and needs to him, for at the very least this helps to make us ever more aware that in all things God is the giver.
God always has our interest in mind. He carries our various needs with fatherly concern, eagerly waiting for us to come to him. He has not forgotten us. And when we feel tempted to think so, then all the more we should remember that he knows it all and cares for us. In fact, he knows much more about us and our needs than we do. Simple, childlike prayer is enough to move his heart, give you something out of the fullness of his compassion, and save you from all sorts of fear and trouble.
(Johann Christoph Blumhardt)
(The God Who Heals, Words of Hope for a Time of Sickness)
Request a prayer and pray for others
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Julia
A Prayer to Begin the Day from the Prayer Manual
Almighty God, who after thy Son had ascended on high didst send forth thy Spirit in the church to draw all men unto thee; Fulfill, we beseech thee, this thy gracious purpose, and in the fullness of time gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven and which are on Earth; even in him, who is the head over all things in the church which is his body, Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Frederick B. Macnutt)
Received: May 17, 2018
Julia
A Prayer for the United States of America
God our Father, Giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care.
You are the rock on which this nation was founded.
You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Reclaim this land for your glory and dwell among your people.
Send your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders.
Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom.
Remind your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing your will.
Through the intercession of Mary, grant us the courage to reject the “culture of death.”
Lead us into a new millennium of life.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
(Archdiocese of Boston)
Received: May 15, 2018
Julia
A Prayer for Inner Peace
Lord, please put your peace in my heart.
I'm worried and anxious.
My mind races and obsesses.
I can't help thinking about my problems.
And the more I think about them, the more depressed I become.
I feel like I'm sinking down in quicksand and can't get out.
Calm me, Lord.
Slow me down, put your peace in my heart.
No matter what problem I have, Lord,
You are bigger,
You are more powerful than it is.
So I bring my problem to you.
I know what I want.
I know my will.
I do not know yours.
I do not know how you will use this problem for my salvation.
I do not know what good you will work out from this evil.
But I trust you.
I trust your goodness and Your wisdom.
So I place myself in your hands.
Please fill my heart with peace.
Amen.
(Author Unknown)
Received: May 15, 2018
Julia
The Anglican Church of Burundi is asking people to pray ahead of a constitutional referendum on Thursday. The referendum will decide whether the presidential term can be extended. There has been violence in the country as the referendum approaches and 26 people have been killed. “The Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi appreciates your prayer support and would like to ask you to continue praying for the country and for the church,” as the referendum approaches, a provincial spokesman said. (Anglican Communion News)
Received: May 15, 2018
Julia
During the past year, there has been a resurgence in Taliban attacks, including attacks on Christian targets. Christians in Afghanistan must meet secretly to avoid unwanted attention from the Taliban or other radical Muslims. Rather than ceasing fellowship, however, these bold believers have developed creative ways to gather for encouragement and Bible study.
Pray that gospel radio broadcasts sponsored by VOM will reach into the hearts of Afghans, drawing many to Christ.
Pray that entire families will come to Christ; often family members are the first line of persecution a new believer faces.
Pray that God will call and direct Afghans to lead his church, and pray for the success of training and leadership development programs for Afghan believers. (Voice of Martyrs)
Received: May 15, 2018
Julia
A Prayer to Begin the Day from W E Scudamore
O God, whose dearly beloved Son was, by thy mighty power, exalted that he might prepare a place in thy Kingdom of Glory for them that love thee: So lead and uphold us, O merciful Lord, that we may both follow the holy steps of his life here upon Earth, and may enter with him hereafter into thy everlasting rest; that where he is, we may also be; through the merits of the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Received: May 15, 2018
Julia
Heavenly Father,
The psalmist tells us to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem."
So I pray for peace for your chosen people, Israel, and their beloved city today.
You have planned for Israel, provided for Israel, and protected Israel for thousands of years.
But as in days of old, there are those today who seek to harm, even destroy, your people.
So I ask you to keep Israel in your loving care. Put a spiritual hedge of protection around your people and their land.
Watch over this nation as a Good Shepherd watches over his flock, and may your chosen people find their ultimate safety and security in you.
While you watch over your people, may your Spirit awaken in them a hunger to embrace their Messiah—the One who died for them—until they see him face-to-face.
We pray this in His name,
Amen.
(crosswalk.com)
Received: May 14, 2018
Julia
Pray for the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13; cf. Ephesians 3:19)
Received: May 14, 2018
Julia
"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you." (John 15:12) To love as Jesus loved is much more than having a feeling. It is a strong disposition, ready to do anything for another person. Whether it is giving bread to the hungry or visiting the imprisoned, love goes beyond the feeling and enters into a concrete action that is selfless with no malicious motivation. (Click To Pray)
Received: May 14, 2018
Julia
Three churches in Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia, were attacked on Sunday in a coordinated terror attack. At least 13 people were killed when bombs exploded at the Christian Church of Indonesia, the Church of Immaculate Santa Maria, and the Pentecostal Church. We pray for God’s mercy on those who were killed and injured in these attacks, for the families and loved ones of those harmed, and for those involved in the attacks, that their souls may be touched by God’s tenderness and be healed. Amen.