Connecting my heart to the heart of the Father

Father, how desperately I need Your help in aligning my heart with the truth of Your Word. With my mouth I would say that You are in the midst of the difficulties of my life, working them together for my good, but the unease in my heart says otherwise. Help me, O God!

Change my heart, Father. Remove fear that I might be fearless. Remove timidity and make me bold for Your kingdom. Remove doubt and unbelief and increase my faith. For I will remember Your deeds, O Lord, the miracles that You have done in my life as I have journeyed towards You. I will meditate on all of Your works and think about the many mighty things You have done for me. I purpose this day to worship You alone. I will bow to no other god.

Even now, Lord, I recount Your goodness to me and I remember when… (pause and recount specific times that God provided, and praise Him…) I praise You, Father! You are faithful, O God, to all of Your promises! Your faithful love endures forever!

I confess that Your ways, O God, are holy. You are the God who performs miracles, You display Your power among all people. Because You are my God, my refuge and strength, I will not fear, even though trouble may seem to surround me. Because of Your great love for me, I know that You will rescue me. You will protect me, be with me, deliver me.

Because You are my God, and You have redeemed me and called me by name – You will be with me when I pass through the waters of adversity…I will not drown.  

The swift current of the trial of disappointment that I find myself in….will not sweep me away.  

The fiery trial of sickness or loneliness or financial instability or…..will not set me ablaze!

For You are the LORD my God, the Holy One of Israel, my Saviour, and my hope is in Your unfailing love that is at work on my behalf, for my good to make me more like Jesus. In all things LORD, I submit to You and Your work in my life. And I pray these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Romans 8:28; Isaiah 29:13; ; Isaiah 41:10; 2 Timothy 1:7; Mark 9:24; Psalm 77:10-15; Daniel 3:16-18; Psalm 91:14-15; Isaiah 41:1-3; Psalm 9:1-2; Psalm 33:18; Romans 8:28

Father, I ask that the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace increase among us. May we serve like Jesus and consider one another as more important than ourselves. May our hearts be knit together as one (Ephesians 4:3; Philippians 2:1-11).

Father, I ask that the ECB community of faith become increasingly generous in the way that we ‘sow’ into your work. Take our gifts, talents, time and money and multiply it over and over to feed many (2 Corinthians 9:6; John 6:1-15).

How thankful I am for the privilege of worshiping with brothers and sisters from many lands. Thank You for this taste of heaven, Lord! May cultural preferences be set aside. Unify us under the banner and cross of Christ and may the Word of God be our one true standard!

Father, I pray for those in our fellowship who are filled with fear, anxiety and depression and ask that You give them Your mind, the mind of Christ. May they hear and respond to Your voice proclaiming ‘Peace be still’ (Mark 4:39).

You have said, Lord, that Your house is to be a ‘house of prayer for all nations. Father, teach us to pray at ECB, to really enter into a deeper longing for you – greater faith, greater fervency. Make us to be a true house of prayer (Mark 11:17).  Grow us in prayer, Lord!

Father, I ask that those who come to ECB seeking answers about who You are and what it means to follow Jesus, will be drawn by the Holy Spirit to salvation. May each of us extend the welcome of Jesus to those around us and may Jesus be so seen among us, that many will come to faith in Him. May there be salvation in Your house each week!

Father, may we be strong in You and in Your mighty power, and not put confidence in our own strength. May each of us daily wear the full armour that You have provided – may we ‘put on’ Jesus! Remind us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood and strengthen us to stand firm. Teach us to pray continually (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Father, may the children and students of our fellowship grow strong in You and in Your mighty power. Protect them from the evil one and go before them into this new school year (Ephesians 6:10; John 17:15).

Lord Jesus, be exalted among us as we gather and worship, as we meet in homes, at our places of work, school and play. Be exalted, be glorified in our conversations, in the choices that we make, and the places we go. Whether we eat or drink or whatever it is that we might do. May we always be mindful that we belong to You and do it all for Your glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Open the eyes of our hearts and reveal the hidden things, for You have said that You desire truth in our inmost parts. Show us Lord, show me, where I am still withholding my heart from You (John 4:23-24; Ephesians 1:18;  
Job 28:11; Psalm 51:6).

As Your people, Lord, may nothing move us in our pursuit of and obedience to You. May we become those who increasingly give ourselves fully to Your work – Your Kingdom purposes, in every arena of life, with a fresh assurance that what we do as unto You, is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Lord Jesus, teach us to follow Your example and serve one another. May we prefer one another out of love for You and serve one another with joy (John 13:1-5; Philippians 2:1-11)!

Father, I praise and thank You for the way that You are growing us as a community of faith. May we be increasingly unified by Your Spirit and grow in our love for one another.

Holy Spirit, teach us the spiritual discipline of “taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ”. Make us increasingly aware of the battle that is being waged for our minds – and stand firm (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

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)!

Jesus, You said that we are to make disciples of all nations – show us this way! Surely You have put us here in Bangkok at this point in time for Your plans and purposes – may we as Your people enter in with joy to all that You have for us. Increase the harvest among us! May many come to Jesus! Yes, Lord, give us the nations (Matthew 28:19)!

Father, I ask that You give us the gift of tears as a sign that You are softening our hearts. Reveal to us, I pray, the things that keep us from truly drawing near to You (Psalm 119:2; Matthew 6:33).

Pour out Your Spirit on us as we gather, change us and wash us by Your Word (Psalm 51:15; Ephesians 5:26; James 1:22).

May Your Word go forth with power tomorrow – give us ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church, what You are saying to me.