Daily Prayer - See and smell the flowers

Good Friday morning, my friends.

Have you ever wondered at the great gift our five senses are?  Just consider the ability to see!  The beauty of creation, the beauty of what our hands can create.  Then there is all we can feel, smell, taste and hear.  

God could have given us a much more bland existence, but instead chose to give us this sensual, wonderful world.  He gave it for our enjoyment.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

    night after night they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;

    no sound is heard from them.

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

    their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

    like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

    and makes its circuit to the other;

    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

(Psalm 19:1-6)

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours,

Bruce

Father, Your works surround us and add such depth and beauty to our daily experiences in life.  

You not only tend to our daily needs but through Your great works You delight our senses by that which we see, touch, hear, and feel as we admire Your handiwork. 

Help us to pause in our busy schedules to listen to the rippling brook, smell the tree blossoms, observe the mountain grandeur and  recognize Your creative power in the plentiful ornamentals that we have the privilege of planting, growing and tending over the warm months each year. 

Your great works are observed in the Scriptures and admired in our daily lives.  

How wonderfully extravagant is Your works that we enjoy each day, for it is truly the heavens declaring Your glory and the firmament showing Your handiwork. 

For them we are grateful. 

Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/a-prayer-proclaiming-gods-greatness/)

Daily Prayer - Expect the unexpected

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

Are your prayers limiting what God can do in your life and the life of those around you?

Andrew Murray once wrote: 

"Beware, above everything else in your praying, of limiting God, not only by unbelief but also by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things, 'abundantly above all that we ask or think' (Ephesians 3:20). Each time you intercede, be quiet first and worship God in His glory. Meditate on what He can do. Then expect great things!"

Pray with a perspective that God can do anything, well beyond what we could ask or imagine!

Prayer is work.  But it is work of great value and with great rewards.  

"Epaphras, who is one of you, is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured." (Colossians 4:12)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

It's a pleasure, lord, to come into Your presence, and be still before You, and rest in Your love. How good it is to worship You and commune with You. And what strength and refreshment come from warm fellowship with You!

But don't let me forget that prayer is more than this. Give me grace to work diligently in prayer for others. And as you lead, to wrestle earnestly in prayer on their behalf. Put special burdens on my heart, and enable me to pour out my heart for You to fulfill Your purposes.

Father, Your great desire is for all Your children to be both mature and effective. Do this for me, and for those in my church.  Do it for fellow believers throughout our area.  And our country. Do it for all believers!

Thank You for your Spirit and the power He gives me to serve You - and others - through prayer. Thank You for the way praise refreshes and strengthens me to work hard in prayer, and the way it stimulates my faith and helps assure answers.

Greatly use those who are seeking to rally Your people to pray. Raise up many who will pray faithfully, pleading with You to work mightily in all the world.

(31 Days of Prayer, Warren and Ruth Myers, Day 16)

Daily Prayer - Tired of being a lost sheep?

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

We know all too well what lies at the end of giving in to temptation.  And yet we give in to the empty promises, the lies.  We end up alone in the wilderness.  I don't know about you, but I am tired of being a lost sheep.  I want to stay with the flock, enjoy their fellowship, and celebrate with the Shepherd when other lost ones are brought back!

Come graze with me.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance!

Bruce

Father, because I love Your commands more than worldly pleasures or temporal possessions I despise the paths that lead me astray like a lost sheep. 

You have gone before me and cleared the way so that I might follow in Your steps and the steps of other righteous, godly saints.  

I am comforted in knowing that I don't walk alone, but I walk hand in hand with You as my Guide. 

Through eyes of faith I see a great cloud of witnesses, those spoken of in the Bible and those I've known in my lifetime, who've already finished the race cheering me on as I persevere on this path of righteousness. 

May I willingly endure hardship as it disciplines my commitment to walking in Your ways. I want to wholeheartedly seek You above everything else, for You are a Rewarder of those who diligently seek You. 

Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/a-prayer-for-walking-with-god/)

Daily Prayer - May He grant you according to your heart’s desire

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

Below is the text of Psalm 20.  As I read it this morning I was struck by its beauty as a prayer.  I pray it for each one of you today, and ask that you pray it for each other - as the Church, as the community of God.

Grace and peace and your heart's desire be yours,

Bruce

Psalm 20

The Assurance of God's Saving Work

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;

May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;

May He send you help from the sanctuary,

And strengthen you out of Zion;

May He remember all your offerings,

And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah

May He grant you according to your heart's desire,

And fulfill all your purpose.

We will rejoice in your salvation,

And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!

May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;

He will answer him from His holy heaven

With the saving strength of His right hand.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;

But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

They have bowed down and fallen;

But we have risen and stand upright.

Save, Lord!

May the King answer us when we call.

Daily Prayer - Are you contagious?

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

"Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls." (1 Peter 2:11)

We have been saved by the sacrifice of Jesus.  We have been given righteousness that we do not deserve.  Now, we may have that righteousness, but we do not always show it.  Holiness is something we grow into as we fight against "evil desires", as Peter puts it.  Pray with me for God's help for us to grow in holiness, to live a life that would make us contagious Christians.

Grace and peace and contagiousness be yours!

Bruce

Holy Father, thank You that we are Your chosen ones, holy in Your sight and deeply loved.  How wonderful that, by sacrificing Your Son, You have perfected us in our inmost being.

Now, Lord, enable me to live out what You have done deep within me.  How much I need greater holiness!  May Your Spirit of holiness empower me to grow in righteousness, thinking and living.

I pray for this also for believers in my neighborhood and church - and for others who come to mind:

Make us quick to confess our sins and rely on You to forgive.  Make us clean and pure in every part of our lives.  Delver us from the evil ways we used to cherish when we didn't know any better.  May we feed daily on Your holy Scriptures, letting You use them to cleanse our lives and remove our blemishes and wrinkles and defects.

I pray that Your people - and especially the Christians I know  - will grow in holiness so that we will not dishonor Your name by compromised living.  May we be blameless and contagious Christians, a good advertisement for the gospel.

I worship before You as the God of peace and well-being who is committed to making us holy.  I count on You to do this day by day, giving us grace to cooperate with You.  How I rejoice that You are faithful.  You will continue Your work in us until the day when You bring us faultless into Your glorious presence, with unspeakable joy.

(31 Days of Prayer, Warren and Ruth Myers, Day 14)

Daily Prayer - Open up my eyes

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

God want's us to see people as He sees them, and love them as He loves them.  Living in God's will is as simple and as difficult as that.

The worship team at our church on Sunday sang Hosanna (by Hillsong).  The last part of this song always has a profound effect on me.  "Heal my heart and make it clean.  Open up my eyes to the things unseen."  It is an incredible prayer, and I offer this verse as our prayer for today.

Grace and peace be your in abundance,

Bruce

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart for what is yours

Everything I am for your kingdom's cause

As I walk from earth into eternity

(Hossana by Brooke Fraser)

Daily Prayer - Need a tutor?

Good Friday morning, my friends.

"Let us...approach the throne of grace with confidence"  Hebrews 4:16

Why can we come with confidence?  Is it because we're worthy, or skilled in prayer?  No.  It's because Jesus, our great High Priest, who understands us and sympathizes with our weaknesses, invites us to come boldly (Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 3:12).  So, if you feel inadequate in prayer, don't get discouraged and stop praying.  "We learn to pray by praying."

Keep on praying, coming to God simply yet confidently, as a small child comes to his father.  Count on the Lord to teach you to pray.  He's an excellent Tutor.

31 Days of Prayer, Warren and Ruth Myers, Day 13

We all need a tutor when it comes to prayer.  Why not choose the Best?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Gracious Father - High King of heaven, yet my Father!  

You are seated in the throne room of the universe on a throne of grace, a throne of favor for the undeserving.  

What a privilege it is to come to Your throne unafraid, with utter freedom and confidence, assured of Your glad welcome - "to run right into Your throne room and find Your arms open wide!" (Kay Arthur)  

To know that I'll find mercy for my failures and grace for my every need!  

What good news that I don't need to be almost perfect to come boldly into Your presence! 

Your mercy lets me come with my mistakes, my sins, my needs - as long as I come honestly  

Thank You that You are always ready to forgive, always eager to hear my voice and answer my prayers.

(31 Days of Prayer, Warren and Ruth Myers, Day 13)

Daily Prayer - A sweet perfume

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

What do you smell like?  Are you a sweet perfume to God?  To those around you?

The way we live life in our families, in our churches, in our schools and workplaces, in traffic(!) - that is the aroma we give off.  Are we a stench or sweet smelling? 

Sometimes we need a little extra deodorant ...

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Lord, may I, and each of us in our church, grow in Your grace and in he knowledge of Your Son.  In each service may we be worshipful and attentive, eager to learn and change our ways.  And may we learn to use our spiritual gifts and serve as You lead.

Protect us from being deceived and led astray.  Help us with our doubts, our stresses, our trials, and our relationships, especially in our families.  Make our love for You and for one another increase and overflow.  May those who have disputes or grievances resolve them quickly, before the end of the day.  I pray these same things for our church's leaders and workers.  In new ways make us a glory to Your name.

May we so live together in harmony, both in our families and our church, that our unity will be like a sweet perfume to You and to others, both believers and unbelievers.

(31 Day of Prayer, Warren and Ruth Myers, Day 12)

Daily Prayer - Fumbling with the lock

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit.  If only it were that simple.  It hasn't been for me.  But in His time, and in His goodness, God is teaching me how to allow the Holy Spirit to fill me.  Having freewill means we have to give God permission to change us.  Remember the words of Jesus: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).  The onus is on us to take off the safety chain, release the deadbolt, and open the door.  I don't know about you, but I want to sit and eat with Jesus - but sometimes I fumble with the lock.  

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Thank You, my wonderful Father, the Source of every good and perfect gift, that You have sent Your Spirit to live in me - as a fountain of living water within me, springing up to refresh my heart and renew my mind.  How sufficient His power is for my needs and for the needs of all Your children!  Thank You for Your promise of His ministry in our lives day by day, as we continue to ask and seek and knock.

I yield, Lord, to Your Spirit.  I pray that He will fill me today and minister to me and through me.  May He enlighten and nourish me through Your Word, strengthen my inner person, and fill my heart to overflowing with Your love.  May He produce in me the very temperament of Jesus - His ways of thinking and behaving and reacting.  Father, may this be especially true in my relationships - family and otherwise - in which I'm most prone to act and react in unloving ways.

I pray that the Spirit will empower me with boldness.  Wherever I may be, may He flow out from my inmost being as refreshing rivers of living water, meeting the needs of others.  Help me depend on Him as I pray, counting on His presence within me, interceding for me and along with me.  How much better He is than even my best and closest prayer partner!

I plead with You, Lord, for these same ministries of the Spirit in my prayer partners and others who pray for Your work around the globe.

How much we need a revival of prayer, so that Christ's great commission will be fulfilled in all the world.  Lord, bring one!

(31 Days of Prayer, Warren and Ruth Myers, Day 11)

Daily Prayer - A prayer for family and friends

Good Monday morning, my friends.

Human nature dictates that we do not like to think of unpleasant things.  We tend to put them out of our minds and ignore signals that something bad might happen.  One of these "things" for me, is the eternal future of unsaved family members and friends.  But slowly and surely the Lord has been placing a burden on my heart to pray for them, and to find ways to live out, and speak, the Gospel to them. He is aligning my will with His, as He deeply desires all to come to faith.

If you have friends and family members who need to know Jesus, then bring them into the throne room of God with this prayer.  If you don't know anyone who needs saving, then perhaps you have isolated yourself from the world a tad to much - you may need to get out more!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Lord, 

Show me afresh Your deep love for the world - Your yearning that people trust Christ and live with You forever in Your eternal family.  To think that my prayers can help fulfill Your longings!

I desire to persevere in prayer day by day for my unsaved family members and friends, including especially _______________________, ______________________ and ___________________.  Give me grace to pray for them often, and to relate to them with greater love and helpfulness, and to tell them of Christ in winsome and timely ways.  Make them intensely aware of their need for forgiveness.  Convince them of Your love and draw them to Christ.  Do the same for my friends and more distant relatives who don't know You, including ___________________ and ___________________.

It seems, Lord, that there are so many barriers that keep people from You.  Deliver those who think there are no absolutes, who believe that every viewpoint or lifestyle is okay as long as it seems right to them.  Turn people from modern philosophies and Eastern religious practices - and from pursuing ideas of some sort (even "Christian" goodness or service), depending on their own efforts rather than on Christ.  Defeat Satan as he blinds them to their need of the Cross.  Open the eyes of thousands daily to the glorious light of the Good News of Christ.  May many trust You for forgiveness in our community, our region, and beyond.

(31 Days of Prayer, Warren and Ruth Myers, Day 10)

Daily Prayer - It brings delight to Your ears...

Good Friday morning, my friends.

I have been spending more time lately reading the Psalms, and enjoying them as never before.  I am finding delight in praising God, and in enjoying His love and comfort.  I encourage you to start each day in His word, and in praising Him.  Allow God to still your heart let the knowledge that He is in complete control calm your spirit.

Grace and peace and praise be yours in abundance,

Bruce

(and how about those Ottawa Senators??? Go SENS Go!)

Father, in Psalm 5 the Psalmist directs His prayer to You:  "O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayers to You and I will look to You with expectation." 

Though You neither slumber nor sleep, we know it brings delight to Your ears to hear Your children vocalizing their praises first thing upon awakening to a new day. 

Your steadfast love never ceases and Your mercies are unending. 

We declare our praises to You, Faithful Father as You lead us in paths of righteousness. 

For You bless the godly, O Lord, and surround them with Your shield of love and protection. 

Amen.

(adapted from http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/a-prayer-for-a-heart-of-praise/)

Daily Prayer - a love like Yours...

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

I love the prayer below.  I want to love the Church as Jesus does.  I like that it asks God to search my heart for hindrances, not having me search it for myself - I tend to miss things.  Spend time in the prayer today.  Meditate on it.

Grace and peace and love be yours in abundance!

Bruce

Lord of love, You are the one Source of perfect, unfailing love. Love that is sacrificial, impartial, and permanent! Work in me a growing love and affection for all people, and especially for all believers—a love like Yours: merciful, compassionate, ready to forgive, patient, considerate, deeply concerned about others' well-being.

Show me if there's anything in my heart that would keep me from praying with Your love. Do You see grievances there? Anger? An unforgiving spirit? Resentment toward anyone in my past, or in my present? Envy or jealousy? Critical attitudes? Selfishness or pride? Anything else that hinders love? Show me. And give me grace to repent and ask You to forgive me. Help me take the initiative in restoring any broken or damaged relationships with others in my family, at work, or at my church.

May the Spirit flood my heart with Your love, washing away any unloving attitudes. Then may Your pure, warm love motivate me as I pray and flow through me toward every person my life touched day be day. I plead with You for this! And I believe You will do it.

And Lord, do these things for all who partner with You in prayer, wherever they may be.

Amen

(From 31 Days of Prayer by Ruth and Warren Myers, Day 8)

Daily Prayer - Joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer

Good Tuesday morning, my friends,

There is no doubt that this life provides challenges.  They may be health, temptation, relational, financial, or security challenges.  They could come one at a time, or in any combination.  But they have come and will continue to come.  This is how God builds and tests our character.  I pray that we will meet these challenges with the trust that God will fulfil His promise: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Father, You guide us through the many dangers, toils, and snares that we face while journeying here below. 

In these major challenges we desire to give You glory in what we say, what we do and in the way we process our emotions as we prayerfully respond to the challenges set before us. 

We want to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer as we overcome life's struggles. 

We find healing for our soul when we rely on You, our tender and loving Father, who heals our broken heart and binds up our wounds. 

You are ever faithful and ever interceding for us, your children. 

And we thank You for it in the name of Jesus. 

Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/a-prayer-for-faithfulness-during-testing/)

Daily Prayer - Distractions

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

Do you sometimes (often?) find your mind wandering during prayer?  Or while reading your Bible?  Do you suddenly think there is something else you need to be doing RIGHT NOW as you read or pray?

It happens to me all the time.  And friends I have talked to express the same frustration.  The enemy wants to disrupt our time with the Lord and works very hard to do so.

Pray with me for alertness and gratitude in our prayers today (and everyday).

Grace and peace and alertness be your in abundance!

Bruce

Dear Lord, work with me so that I will always be alert and thankful when I pray, whether alone or with others.  So much depends on prayer!  Don't let me be careless, or distracted, or on-and-off in my praying.

May the same be true as I immerse myself in Your Word.  I praise you for inspiring this marvellous Book to build us up and set us free.  How glad I am for the way it keeps me on track in my praying and living!

(31 Days of Prayer - Moving God's Mighty Hand, Day 6, p68, Warren and Ruth Myers)