Prepare your heart for prayer with the words to the hymn below.

WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS
Isaac Watts 1707

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Thank You Lord Jesus, by Your shed blood on the cross, You have washed me and made me clean and have opened a new and living way so that I can draw near to God. Forgive me, O forgive me I pray, for the times that I have yawned in the face of Your great sacrifice, and have allowed apathy to overtake my living…

Revive my heart again I pray.

Forgive me for calling You ‘Lord’, and then turning away to my own agenda or even returning to my sin…

You alone are Lord, and I submit to Your will.

Forgive me for the times that I call You ‘Saviour’ and then seek ways to save myself, to manipulate and control my circumstances…

My life is in Your hands O God, I submit to You.

(Pause and pray into these themes)

May the finished work of Your cross, the great love it represents, the freedom it provides, be ever-large before me and be burnt upon my daily living. Capture my heart once again with the greatness, the wonder of the cross.

These things I pray in Your beautiful Name - the Name of Jesus. Amen.

You are the God of all hope, Father. I pray that You will fill my brothers and sisters in Christ at ECB with joy and peace, that their hearts might overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Where there is depression or despair, discouragement or doubt, may it be dispelled in Jesus Name and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit be poured out on their lives (Romans 15:13).

Father, transform us by the renewing of our minds May we become increasingly radical in our desire for holiness (Romans 12:1-2).

As we enter into deeper fellowship and community through the ministry of LIFE Groups, may we be unified by Your Spirit. I pray for my brothers and sisters, and ask that they might be encouraged (Pray for those in your LIFE Group).

Ask God to give to each of us, creative ways to live out Jesus to our Thai neighbours and friends, that in spite of language barriers Jesus might be proclaimed. Pray that a Gospel witness will grow in your neighbourhood! Pray for divine appointments. Ask God to increasingly make us bold and ready to give the reason for the hope that we have, with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

Ask God to pour out His Spirit on His Church in the country that you are from. Pray that the message of the cross – salvation through Jesus only will be preached with boldness, ushering in a great harvest.

Father, capture our hearts again with the mystery and greatness of the work of Christ on the cross for our sins. Destroy all lesser loves and idols in our lives and restore ‘first love passion’ for Jesus in our hearts – Revive us I pray (Psalm 85:6)!

May we, as Your people, stand firm and let nothing move us. May we always give ourselves fully to Your work. Encourage us, remind us, that our labour for You is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58) and increase our compassion for the lost! May many rise up and join in the ministries of ECB and the harvest field.

Father, I ask that we as Your people might be increasingly known for our lavish love and forgiveness of one another. Keep us from pride that kills the work of Your Spirit and hardens our hearts to Your voice calling us to ‘run home’. Give to us I pray, the gift of brokenness and repentance and clothe us in humility (Luke 15:11-32; 1 Peter 5:5). Give wisdom in all things, to those who lead us, Father!

Father, help us as Your people to learn to walk humbly with You. Give us the gift of tears I pray, as a sign that You are softening our hearts. Fill us with fresh passion for You and a hunger for holiness, that we would truly become those who seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Reveal to us, I pray, the things that keep us from truly drawing near to You (Psalm 119:2; Matthew 6:33).

As a community of faith, may we increasingly be those who bless with our mouths, who seek and pursue peace with one another. May we love as brothers and be compassionate and humble towards one another (1 Peter 3:8-12).

Father, Your Word says that You have not given us a spirit of fear or timidity, but power, love and self-discipline. I ask in Jesus mighty name that fear be crushed and put to death in the lives of my brothers and sisters at ECB. Replace timidity with holy boldness I pray (2 Timothy 1:7).

Lord Jesus, help us to abide in You that we as Your people might bear spiritual fruit and by doing so, show that we are truly Your disciples (John 15:5-8). Allow us, I pray, to see harvest come in, and souls come to know Jesus!

Father God, I ask that you empower and anoint those who are leading our discipleship classes. May all who attend be drawn closer to Jesus and many come to know Him.

Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide who are facing persecution for their faith.  Ask God to strengthen them by His Spirit. Pray that the Church of Jesus will grow and expand in spite of those who come against it.

O God, pour out Your Holy Spirit on us! Renew us! Revive us! Change Us! Holy Spirit fall a fresh on ME!

May our eyes be fixed on what is unseen and eternal – increase our longing for heaven and for You - that earth would hold nothing that we desire. Smash the idols in our lives that we might love You only (2 Corinthians 4:18; Psalm 73:25).

Father, may we truly hate what is evil and cling to what is good.  Destroy every deed of darkness among us and may we put on the armour of light, clothing ourselves with Jesus.

May each of us come before you tomorrow with songs of thanksgiving and joy! Pour out Your Spirit on us as we gather and change us into a people that is conformed to the image of Jesus!