Chrysostom
Beloved of All
Your prayer has been brought before the Lord and it has been heard with care and with seriousness. So many burdens are gathered here, for protection and breakthrough, for wisdom at work and in the church, for healing of bodies and soul wounds, for school and exams, for meetings and services, for the Friday gathering of prayer and praise and for all the outreaches that are planned. We bring them all to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, through whom alone is salvation, and we ask Him to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask, according to His glory and His will.
There is much in your request about conflict, and about needing encouragement. The Scriptures teach us that every conflict has a root, and if the root is cut out there will be no fruit. Many conflicts spring from love of money or envy or desire for honor. If we learn to despise the passing things of this life and to treasure what is above, we find peace. The one who has taken your money or your honor has not truly injured you if your treasure remains in heaven. And we are also taught not to rush into conflicts but to wait upon God, to be quiet until He summons us, so that we show freedom from vainglory and true nobleness of spirit. When Job heard the voice of the Lord he did not boast of his sufferings but said he was nothing, earth and ashes, and he melted away before God. In the same way, when we bring our struggles to God, we first humble ourselves and say, Lord, have mercy, and then we breathe again. God also at times allows the struggle to become heavier near the end, as He did with Abraham, not to crush us but that we may gain more and that His nearness at the door may make even intolerable things tolerable. Hold fast then and live by faith, for the just shall live by faith, and do not draw back. A pure conscience before God is itself a great encouragement and comfort.
So we pray together now.
Heavenly Father, we ask for Your strong protection and for breakthrough for this soul and for all who are in need. Grant wisdom and strength and anointing for every outreach and service, and for the work that has been entrusted. Lead and guide and guard at work and in the team, give favor in meetings, and help all that is done to be done in a manner pleasing to You. Anoint Your church and raise up more prayer warriors. Bless and protect and powerfully anoint the evening of prayer and praise this Friday, and let Your presence be known there. Guide the preaching of Your word, grant a strong anointing for the next sermon as You did for the last, and save many through the recent and upcoming outreaches.
We ask for healing where there is sickness and for quick healing where it is Your will, for the young ones in school and in exams, for those carrying soul wounds, and for those who are weak and weary. Be a Father to those who lack a father, show Your love, rear and encourage and restore. Forgive where words have been spoken about others that should not have been spoken, and turn even that into a blessing. Bring back those who have wandered, and grant overall encouragement and defeat the works of the enemy.
For every conflict that was named, including those forgotten and those within the church and workplace and families, we ask You to mediate and to convict where conviction is needed. Where there is sin, bring repentance. Where there is hurt, bring true reconciliation and healing. Teach us to seek peace and to cut out the root of covetousness, envy and vainglory.
Concerning the relationships that were mentioned, we do not ask You to bless what is not according to Your design. We hold that marriage is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, and that sexual union and living together belong within that covenant alone. So for every relationship that is outside Your will, whether it is immoral, unfaithful, cohabiting or otherwise dysfunctional, we ask You to convict, to confront what is not of You, to stop what dishonors You, and to work healing and, most importantly, salvation. If a relationship can be made holy and right before You, make it so in purity and truth. If not, break it in mercy and lead each person to repentance and to wholeness in Christ. Heal soul wounds and set Your hand upon each life for salvation first of all.
We also lift up the prayers that keep being deleted and all the larger burdens You have laid on this heart, for persecuted Christians, for the salvation of those who are unsaved, for the peace of Jerusalem, for those suffering in war zones and calamities, and for abused children and many others who suffer. Have mercy, Lord, and let Your glory fill the earth.
We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ, our only hope and our only Savior, trusting not in our worth but in Your mercy. Amen.
There is much in your request about conflict, and about needing encouragement. The Scriptures teach us that every conflict has a root, and if the root is cut out there will be no fruit. Many conflicts spring from love of money or envy or desire for honor. If we learn to despise the passing things of this life and to treasure what is above, we find peace. The one who has taken your money or your honor has not truly injured you if your treasure remains in heaven. And we are also taught not to rush into conflicts but to wait upon God, to be quiet until He summons us, so that we show freedom from vainglory and true nobleness of spirit. When Job heard the voice of the Lord he did not boast of his sufferings but said he was nothing, earth and ashes, and he melted away before God. In the same way, when we bring our struggles to God, we first humble ourselves and say, Lord, have mercy, and then we breathe again. God also at times allows the struggle to become heavier near the end, as He did with Abraham, not to crush us but that we may gain more and that His nearness at the door may make even intolerable things tolerable. Hold fast then and live by faith, for the just shall live by faith, and do not draw back. A pure conscience before God is itself a great encouragement and comfort.
So we pray together now.
Heavenly Father, we ask for Your strong protection and for breakthrough for this soul and for all who are in need. Grant wisdom and strength and anointing for every outreach and service, and for the work that has been entrusted. Lead and guide and guard at work and in the team, give favor in meetings, and help all that is done to be done in a manner pleasing to You. Anoint Your church and raise up more prayer warriors. Bless and protect and powerfully anoint the evening of prayer and praise this Friday, and let Your presence be known there. Guide the preaching of Your word, grant a strong anointing for the next sermon as You did for the last, and save many through the recent and upcoming outreaches.
We ask for healing where there is sickness and for quick healing where it is Your will, for the young ones in school and in exams, for those carrying soul wounds, and for those who are weak and weary. Be a Father to those who lack a father, show Your love, rear and encourage and restore. Forgive where words have been spoken about others that should not have been spoken, and turn even that into a blessing. Bring back those who have wandered, and grant overall encouragement and defeat the works of the enemy.
For every conflict that was named, including those forgotten and those within the church and workplace and families, we ask You to mediate and to convict where conviction is needed. Where there is sin, bring repentance. Where there is hurt, bring true reconciliation and healing. Teach us to seek peace and to cut out the root of covetousness, envy and vainglory.
Concerning the relationships that were mentioned, we do not ask You to bless what is not according to Your design. We hold that marriage is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, and that sexual union and living together belong within that covenant alone. So for every relationship that is outside Your will, whether it is immoral, unfaithful, cohabiting or otherwise dysfunctional, we ask You to convict, to confront what is not of You, to stop what dishonors You, and to work healing and, most importantly, salvation. If a relationship can be made holy and right before You, make it so in purity and truth. If not, break it in mercy and lead each person to repentance and to wholeness in Christ. Heal soul wounds and set Your hand upon each life for salvation first of all.
We also lift up the prayers that keep being deleted and all the larger burdens You have laid on this heart, for persecuted Christians, for the salvation of those who are unsaved, for the peace of Jerusalem, for those suffering in war zones and calamities, and for abused children and many others who suffer. Have mercy, Lord, and let Your glory fill the earth.
We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ, our only hope and our only Savior, trusting not in our worth but in Your mercy. Amen.
