Lenten Meditation

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

WORTHY IS THE LAMB
Darlene Zschech 2002

Thank you for the cross, Lord.
Thank you for the price you paid.
Bearing all my sin and shame, in love you came
and gave Amazing Grace.
Thank you for this love, Lord.
Thank you for the nail-pierced hands.
Wash me in Your cleansing flow, now all I know...
Your forgiveness and embrace.
Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne.
We crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious!
High and lifted up
Jesus, Son of God.
The darling of Heaven, crucified...
Worthy is the Lamb.

Lord Jesus, I remember…

“Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders,
the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision.
They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
The chief priests accused him of many things.
So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer?
See how many things they are accusing you of.”
But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested.
A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists
who had committed murder in the uprising.
The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate,
knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
“Crucify him!” they shouted.
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them.
He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

(Selah) (Mark 15:1-15)

Pray for ministers of the Gospel around the world, that in all Lenten celebrations Jesus will receive the glory due His Name. Pray that the many evangelistic events taking place during this Easter season through the Jesus film, dramas, musicals and other outreach ministries, will produce lasting spiritual fruit in every nation, and that many will come to know Christ.

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, I pray that those who are ministering in LIFE Groups, Oasis, Youth and Crosstown will be empowered and anointed by Your Holy Spirit. Fill them with great joy and establish the work of their hands (Psalm 90:17)!

Lord, give us Your dreams – ‘God-sized’ dreams for the ministries that you wish to accomplish through us. Forgive our lack of faith and embolden us to be risk takers for the sake of Your Kingdom
(Hebrews 11:1, 6)!

Keep us from turning away from You Father. May we be steadfast. Revive us and restore us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Make Your face shine on us, that the world may know that we are Yours (Psalm 81:18-19).

Father, I pray for those among the ECB community who are new in their faith journey with You, – increase their faith, Father. May they be built-up, edified and encouraged. For those among us who are still seeking, and have yet to call on Your name, reveal Yourself to them Lord, draw them by Your Spirit. Add to our fellowship daily those who are being saved! May there be salvation in Your house this Sunday (John 6:44; Acts 2:47)!

Lord Jesus, help us to abide in You, that we as Your people might bear spiritual fruit that will last and by doing so, show that we are truly Your disciples (John 15:5-8).

Father, You have said that the sacrifices that You are looking for are a broken spirit and contrite heart. Destroy pride among us Lord and give to us the gift of repentance I pray (Psalm 51:16-17).

Father, I ask that You build the house called ECB – we do not want to labour in vain! May many be led to Jesus and Your love spread through the city of Bangkok through our lives. May Your favour rest upon us Lord. May the ministries of our fellowship multiply and increase (Psalm 127:1; Psalm 51:18; Psalm 90:17)!

Father, may we increasingly live in harmony with one another, may we be sympathetic with one another and love as brothers and sisters – may compassion and humility increase among us. Teach us how to bless one another (1 Peter 3:8-9).

I pray for our children and young people, Father, and ask You to strengthen them to stand firm in their faith and make a difference for Your Kingdom. Protect them from the evil one and may they follow You all the days of their lives (John 17:15).

Ask God to open the floodgates of heaven and pour out blessings on Christian organizations ministering in the nation of Thailand.

Father, may we like Mary, learn to sit at Your feet and not worry about the many things in our lives that press in around us. May we be strengthened to choose the ‘better way’ of intimate fellowship with You (Luke 10:41-42).

Father, I pray for pre-Christian friends, co-workers, family members, who are connected to the ECB community of faith – Jesus, may their longing for You increase and make us ready to give the reason for the hope that we have in You (1 Peter 3:15) (Pray for the pre-Christian people in your life by name…)!

Father, protect us from the love of money. May we be increasingly content with what we have knowing that You will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5-6).

I ask in Jesus’ mighty name, that every stronghold of addiction be broken off of us as Your people. Reveal the hidden things, Father! Purify us and make us holy (Job 28:11)!

You have said Lord, that You will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask – Father, I ask! Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit! Pour out Your Spirit on my brothers and sisters in Christ at ECB! Revive us – change us! Conform us to the image of Jesus (Luke 11:11-13; Psalm 85:6; Romans 8:29)!

Pour out Your Spirit on us as we gather, change us and wash us by Your Word! Keep us from just listening to Your Word, may we be those who do what it says (Psalm 51:15; Ephesians 5:26; James 1:22)!

Father, You know the needs that are represented in our fellowship. There is relational brokenness among us Lord, spiritual dryness, unconfessed sin, physical weakness, emotional distress. O God have mercy on us, heal Your people (Pray for those you know of by name…). As we gather tomorrow, minister to us by the Holy Spirit. Heal us, O Lord!

Father, may those who lead us, our pastors, elders and deacons have Your wisdom. Increase their discernment, Father. Pour out the Holy Spirit on them I pray, and strengthen them with joy.