19th. November. 2021. Daily Devotion.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
God instructs us to be earnest and fervent in our requests. At the same time, we come in wilful submission. To say “Your will be done” is not an indication of a lack of faith. The faith we bring to prayer must include a trust that God is able to hear our prayers and that He is disposed to answer them. Yet when God says no to our requests, this faith also trusts in His wisdom. God’s wisdom and benevolence must always and everywhere be assumed by those who entreat Him with petitions.
We pray in the name of Jesus because we do thereby acknowledge His office as Mediator. As our High Priest, Christ is our intercessor even as the Holy Spirit is our helper in prayer.
A helpful tool in learning to pray is the acrostic A-C-T-S. Each letter in the acrostic indicates a vital element of prayer. A = Adoration C = Confession T = Thanksgiving
S = Supplication
By following this simple acrostic we are sure to include all of the proper elements of prayer. ~ from “Renewing Your Mind” by R. C. Sproul
Holy Spirit, teach me to pray, and pray through me. Amen.
Still within us now, O Lord, any voice but yours, lest we hear but do not receive, lest we listen but do not act, lest we know but do not love, and let your Holy Spirit turn our hearts and lives to your truth. Amen Liturgy of the French Reformed Church
For Those with Disabilities
Dear heavenly Father, my thoughts and prayers are with all who have lost the use of their body or mind, in some important way: those of us who cannot move, those who cannot walk, who cannot see or hear, whose minds are not clear: for all of us who have lost some function that others of us take for granted. And I count myself among them, for who among us will not face such tribulations as we grow older?
I pray that those of us so afflicted may know you, Lord Christ, and that your Holy Spirit may be strong in us, to give us comfort in the inconvenience, the frustration, and often the embarrassment we might suffer. Heal us, where it is your will, Lord; and for those of us who cannot be healed, let us know with complete confidence that we are truly whole. Bring to all of your children full comprehension of the freedom and joy that await us, after the short trial of this life is ended, and we all come to perfection together. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit,
Come on the soft steps of a child.
Come Holy Spirit,
Come on the gentle breeze.
Speak to me Holy Spirit,
Speak to me in the rustling leaves.
Speak to me Holy Spirit,
Speak to me in the rushing stream.
Move me Holy Spirit,
Move me like the harp strings playing.
Move me Holy Spirit,
Move me like the carolling wren.
Change me Holy Spirit,
Change my heart and make me live.
Change me Holy Spirit,
Change me so I do your will.
Amen
