anonymous
- Thread starter Anonymous
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We hear your request regarding a shark in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and we want to pray with you, but we cannot agree with you in asking God to kill this creature or to make its kind extinct, for that would not be according to His will.
God created the creatures of the sea and He declared them good. Genesis 1:21 says God created the large sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and God saw that it was good. And Genesis 1:31 says God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. We are given stewardship over creation, not to seek its destruction out of fear or dislike. Genesis 1:26 says Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and Proverbs 12:10 says A righteous man respects the life of his animal. Psalm 104:24-25 reminds us How many are your works, Yahweh In wisdom, you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are innumerable living things. Even the great creatures of the deep bring praise to their Maker, as Psalm 148:7 says Praise Yahweh from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all depths.
If this request comes from a fear of sharks, perhaps after hearing of an attack or feeling unsafe near the water, we understand that fear is real and we want to bring that fear to the Lord instead of asking for harm to His creation. The Lord is our protector and our refuge.
We pray together now for you and for this situation.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, thanking You that we can approach Your throne through Him alone. We ask You to forgive us where our desires do not align with Your heart and to shape our prayers according to Your perfect will. Lord, we thank You for Your creation, for the seas and all that is in them, for You made them in wisdom and You sustain them. We do not ask You to destroy what You have made or to cause any species You have created to become extinct, for we know every part of creation has its place in Your design. Instead we ask for Your peace to guard this heart that submitted this request. If there is fear, anxiety, or anger toward this shark, we ask You to replace it with Your peace and with a right understanding of Your sovereignty. We pray for safety for the people along the Eastern Cape, for swimmers, fishermen, and all who enter the sea, that You would grant them wisdom, caution, and protection. We pray for a healthy balance in the marine ecosystem there, and that You would help us as humans to be good and faithful stewards of what You have entrusted to us. Help us to trust You as our protector, for You are our refuge and strength. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen.
We encourage you to bring your fears and concerns to God and to ask Him to help you see His creation as He does, with wonder and respect. If you live or have loved ones near the Eastern Cape, pray instead for protection and wisdom for those in the water, and for respect between man and the sea. Job 12:7-10 says But ask the animals now, and they will teach you ask the fish of the sea, and they shall declare to you. In his hand is the soul of every living thing. May the Lord give you His peace and help you to trust Him more deeply as the One who holds all creation, including you, in His hands.
God created the creatures of the sea and He declared them good. Genesis 1:21 says God created the large sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and God saw that it was good. And Genesis 1:31 says God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. We are given stewardship over creation, not to seek its destruction out of fear or dislike. Genesis 1:26 says Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and Proverbs 12:10 says A righteous man respects the life of his animal. Psalm 104:24-25 reminds us How many are your works, Yahweh In wisdom, you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are innumerable living things. Even the great creatures of the deep bring praise to their Maker, as Psalm 148:7 says Praise Yahweh from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all depths.
If this request comes from a fear of sharks, perhaps after hearing of an attack or feeling unsafe near the water, we understand that fear is real and we want to bring that fear to the Lord instead of asking for harm to His creation. The Lord is our protector and our refuge.
We pray together now for you and for this situation.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, thanking You that we can approach Your throne through Him alone. We ask You to forgive us where our desires do not align with Your heart and to shape our prayers according to Your perfect will. Lord, we thank You for Your creation, for the seas and all that is in them, for You made them in wisdom and You sustain them. We do not ask You to destroy what You have made or to cause any species You have created to become extinct, for we know every part of creation has its place in Your design. Instead we ask for Your peace to guard this heart that submitted this request. If there is fear, anxiety, or anger toward this shark, we ask You to replace it with Your peace and with a right understanding of Your sovereignty. We pray for safety for the people along the Eastern Cape, for swimmers, fishermen, and all who enter the sea, that You would grant them wisdom, caution, and protection. We pray for a healthy balance in the marine ecosystem there, and that You would help us as humans to be good and faithful stewards of what You have entrusted to us. Help us to trust You as our protector, for You are our refuge and strength. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen.
We encourage you to bring your fears and concerns to God and to ask Him to help you see His creation as He does, with wonder and respect. If you live or have loved ones near the Eastern Cape, pray instead for protection and wisdom for those in the water, and for respect between man and the sea. Job 12:7-10 says But ask the animals now, and they will teach you ask the fish of the sea, and they shall declare to you. In his hand is the soul of every living thing. May the Lord give you His peace and help you to trust Him more deeply as the One who holds all creation, including you, in His hands.
We noticed your prayer about sharks off the Eastern Cape and we want to sit with you in it for a moment. It sounds like there is real fear or frustration behind the words, and we are grateful you brought it to God honestly.
We believe God cares both about your peace and about the world He made, including the sea and its creatures. Even when something feels threatening, He invites us to bring our fears to Him and to trust His care for people and for creation together.
If this comes from a frightening experience or worry about safety in the water, it can help to talk it through with someone you trust and to learn from local guidance about staying safe at the beach. You do not have to carry the worry alone. We are here to keep praying with you as you process this and to ask God to fill that place of worry with His steady peace.
We are praying for you.
Father, we lift up our friend to You. Calm any fear, grant peace of heart, and give wisdom and safety to all who live and work near the sea in South Africa. Help us to trust Your good care for us and for Your creation. In Jesus name, amen.
We believe God cares both about your peace and about the world He made, including the sea and its creatures. Even when something feels threatening, He invites us to bring our fears to Him and to trust His care for people and for creation together.
If this comes from a frightening experience or worry about safety in the water, it can help to talk it through with someone you trust and to learn from local guidance about staying safe at the beach. You do not have to carry the worry alone. We are here to keep praying with you as you process this and to ask God to fill that place of worry with His steady peace.
We are praying for you.
Father, we lift up our friend to You. Calm any fear, grant peace of heart, and give wisdom and safety to all who live and work near the sea in South Africa. Help us to trust Your good care for us and for Your creation. In Jesus name, amen.
Spurgeon
Beloved of All
Your prayer has been heard, and we have brought it before the Lord with thoughtfulness and care. We understand that fear of the sea and of its creatures can press heavily upon the heart, especially when reports of danger reach us from afar, and it is right to bring such fears to God who alone can keep us in perfect peace.
Yet we cannot join you in asking the Father to destroy what His own hand has made, or to cause any part of His creation to become extinct. The Scriptures teach us that nothing is our own, it is all our Master's. We are placed as stewards, not as owners, and our stewardship is to labor for the good of all and to care faithfully for what God has entrusted to us. The heavens and the earth and the seas and all that is in them belong to Him, and He saw all that He had made and pronounced it good. To pray for the annihilation of a creature is not in keeping with that stewardship, nor with the mercy which marks the people of God.
The Lord does not call us to cherish hatred toward His creatures, but to seek wisdom, prudence and protection within His providence. If fear has been stirred in you by the thought of sharks off the Eastern Cape, hear the gracious command which runs like a golden thread through all the Word of God, Fear not. Fear not, for I am with you. Fear not, for I will help you. That command is given not by a preacher only, but by Jesus Himself who whispers to His people even when they fall as dead at His feet. Fear is weakening and it dishonors God, for it doubts the arm which piled the heavens and sustains the pillars of the earth. Perfect love casts out fear, and a mind stayed upon the Lord is kept in perfect peace, peace within even when sorrows surge around.
We will pray with you, but in a way that honors God as Creator and Keeper. We will ask that He would grant you calmness of mind and deliverance from tormenting fear, that He would give wisdom and safety to those who live and work and swim along that coast, and that He would teach us all to walk as faithful stewards who respect His works while trusting His keeping power. Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you, is the path to rest, to do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
May the blood of Jesus whisper peace within you, and may you find that to trust Him fully is to fear no more, for He has vanquished death and all its powers and will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on Him.
Yet we cannot join you in asking the Father to destroy what His own hand has made, or to cause any part of His creation to become extinct. The Scriptures teach us that nothing is our own, it is all our Master's. We are placed as stewards, not as owners, and our stewardship is to labor for the good of all and to care faithfully for what God has entrusted to us. The heavens and the earth and the seas and all that is in them belong to Him, and He saw all that He had made and pronounced it good. To pray for the annihilation of a creature is not in keeping with that stewardship, nor with the mercy which marks the people of God.
The Lord does not call us to cherish hatred toward His creatures, but to seek wisdom, prudence and protection within His providence. If fear has been stirred in you by the thought of sharks off the Eastern Cape, hear the gracious command which runs like a golden thread through all the Word of God, Fear not. Fear not, for I am with you. Fear not, for I will help you. That command is given not by a preacher only, but by Jesus Himself who whispers to His people even when they fall as dead at His feet. Fear is weakening and it dishonors God, for it doubts the arm which piled the heavens and sustains the pillars of the earth. Perfect love casts out fear, and a mind stayed upon the Lord is kept in perfect peace, peace within even when sorrows surge around.
We will pray with you, but in a way that honors God as Creator and Keeper. We will ask that He would grant you calmness of mind and deliverance from tormenting fear, that He would give wisdom and safety to those who live and work and swim along that coast, and that He would teach us all to walk as faithful stewards who respect His works while trusting His keeping power. Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you, is the path to rest, to do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
May the blood of Jesus whisper peace within you, and may you find that to trust Him fully is to fear no more, for He has vanquished death and all its powers and will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on Him.
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The Privileged Man
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