Please join us today as we pray focusing our hearts UPWARD:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for making it possible for us to gather together, as we take time to praise and worship You this morning. Please help us to take our eyes off of ourselves and change our focus to You. You are an amazing Father and Friend who deserves to be praised . . . simply because of who You are.
Lord, You are above all others, and we know this to be true because in Isaiah 55:8-9, it is written, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thought than your thoughts.” Father . . . I confess that I so easily forget this and want to take control myself because I either don’t understand who You really are, or I don’t believe. I find that too often I underestimate Your knowledge, abilities and timing. Please forgive my unbelief.
We praise you, Father . . . for You are all-knowing and all-powerful. You are the Alpha and Omega, and yet . . . You are personal and close. We read from the Bible that “You formed my inner parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.” I have much to be grateful for.
Thank you, thank you for being near. Thank You for being true. You are fact, not fiction. You don’t hide Yourself from us, but rather make Yourself so easily available to us.
My gracious God . . . my beloved God . . . how grateful I am that You love me and chose me.
You are more than worthy of our praise. I love that You are gentle and that You are my comfort. You are compassionate, forgiving and generous . . . so generous.
Heavenly Father, there are many times when I put my needs, wants and desires above my relationship with You. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. It’s You I want to serve. It’s You I want to please and find Your favor in.
Lord . . . You are worthy of all our praise . . . always! Thank You, God.
Amen.
[prayer by Karis King]
INWARD:
Heavenly Father,
I come before You today to confess my feeling of need for approval from others. I am a people-pleaser as You already know, Lord. Because of that, my thoughts and actions don’t always align.
I feel I must “fix” everyone’s problems when they come to me for help. I think I am in control of how to take care of things for them. I forget that is Your job and not mine, God. I merely need to turn those issues over to You in prayer.
When I recently had to make a decision regarding my son and his family’s future, I immediately let stress take over and Satan caused many sleepless nights for me. When I had to do the “tough love” and finally was able to say, “no,” it was hard. I did it only because of Your help, Jesus. Once again, Lord, I failed to put my complete trust in You, and I had to bear the pain of it.
I also struggle inside with my self-worth and that adds to my need to please people. I ask for Your forgiveness, Lord, for these sins, and pray that you continue to provide me with Your wisdom, strength, love and patience to become more like You. I know You are a sovereign God. You love me more than I can imagine and willingly forgive my sins whenever I truly repent.
I ask these things in the name of Jesus.
[prayer by Karen Chloupek]
OUTWARD:
Dear God,
Thank You for bringing us here together this morning. Each one of us has so many things going on in our lives today, and we thank You for this pause in our week when we can soak in Your Word. Thank You for giving us this place and these people to be with as we learn from You today.
This morning, I want to bring my family before You. Thank You for giving me a wonderful husband and two beautiful little girls. What a blessing they are to me! There were many years I thought we might not ever have children, so I thank You for answering our prayers. And I ask You to help me remain content in the family You have given us, and not compare with others, or wish things might have been different. You have given me two sweet girls, and I pray that You would help me trust in Your ways and be content.
Thank You for the laughter and silliness that fills my home as the girls play. Thank You for their innocence and wonder as they learn about the world, and their excitement over the simplest things. I am blessed by them daily.
You have also created my girls to be strong and independent, and for this I also thank You. I pray that You would guide me as I lead them. Give me patience—much, much patience—and loving firmness as I deal with two-year-old tantrums each day. Help me to reflect You in how I react and how I guide Claire. I also pray You would help me to speak kindly about Claire to others during this season—help me not to turn my mothering challenges into complaining and dishonoring these sweet gifts You have given.
As my oldest heads to kindergarten next fall, I pray that You would prepare her way. Be with her teacher and her classmates. Help Ella to enjoy the new challenges she encounters and to be a good friend to others. Give us wisdom as we walk with her through the new path of school.
I worry about how the girls treat others. Help that not be a matter of my pride, but a concern for their hearts that I take before You. I want them to be respectful—help me to model that respect in the way I treat my husband and those in authority over me. I want them to love You—help me first of all to love You with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength, so they see what that looks like and want it for themselves.
Thank You for these years when I can take a pause in my career and be home. When I miss the fulfillment of a busy workday and conversation with adults, help me to be patient with my life the way it is for now. Give me rest in the truth that You have called me to the important work of investing in my children during these years that will pass all too quickly.
Thank You for the chance to interact with and encourage other moms. Help me to pour into them and point them to You.
I pray You would help me to rest in Your truth. In You I am loved . . . chosen. I’ve been given everything I need. Help this to be evident in the way I live each day.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
[prayer by Liz Peters]
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Equip Her 