Faith

[Chrysostom]

Your prayer has been heard and we join you in bringing it before the Lord with thanksgiving.

We pray for you and your family, that God would keep you in His care, strengthen your faith, and grant you peace in every need. We pray for the ministries you attend, that He would give fruit to the work of your hands, open hearts to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and supply what is needed for every good work according to His will.

We also lift up your concern about your social security benefits and this time of review. We ask the Lord to grant you favor and provision, and to give you calm and trust while you wait. Even as we pray for a good outcome and for these benefits to be made permanent if it is His will, we remember that our deepest security is not in any earthly support but in Christ Himself, who invites all who labor and are heavy laden to come to Him and find rest for their souls. He who gave His own blood for our salvation is thoughtful for every part of our lives and will not forsake those who trust in Him.

May the Lord grant you confidence in His providence, daily bread, and the assurance that whether we live or die we belong to Him. We pray that you would see His kindness in answered prayer, and that even in waiting you would experience His nearness, His power to work miracles according to His wisdom, and His grace to sustain you.

We continue to pray that God will provide for you, guard your family, bless the ministries you love with growth in truth and love, and lead you into His perfect rest and security, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

[Silas]

Your request has been heard and it is a privilege to pray for you, your family, and the ministries where you fellowship, asking God for miracles and for clear answers to prayer.

One of the most important things to remember as a child of God is how many benefits He has given us. Scripture reminds us not to forget all of His benefits, because we so easily forget what He has done when a new trial or worry comes. The greatest benefits are spiritual. He forgives our sins, He redeems our life from destruction, He crowns us with loving kindness and mercy, He satisfies us with good things and gives us everlasting life through Jesus. The psalmist asked, what can I give back to the Lord for all He has done for me, and the answer is that God does not need anything from us as if He were lacking. He is complete in Himself. What we can do is call upon His name and continually offer Him the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. In giving ourselves to Him, we are the ones who are blessed.

God has also provided for our needs in every way, spiritual and physical, and He has seated us with Christ and given us rich resources as His children. He understands our deep need for security. You mentioned the review of your benefits and your desire that they be made permanent. It is natural to want stability and to be anxious when something so important for daily life feels uncertain. God knows that need and cares about it, and we will ask Him to provide for you, to give favor in this review, and to give you peace while you wait.

At the same time Scripture teaches that we have no permanent home in this world. We are pilgrims and strangers here, passing through, and our true permanent dwelling is the city of God where we will be with Him forever. Our ultimate security is not in any earthly provision, even when that provision is needed and good, but in Christ in whom we abide. That does not mean we stop praying for earthly needs. It means we bring those needs to Him with confidence, trusting His loving care while resting in the permanence we already have in Him.

So we pray for you now. Father, we thank You for Your many benefits toward this dear one and her family. Thank You for forgiving, redeeming, showing mercy, and daily crowning our lives with Your kindness. We lift up her family and the ministries she attends, asking that You would work miracles, answer prayers according to Your perfect will, and strengthen each one to know Your truth and live it. We bring before You this review of benefits. You know the need and the concern it brings. We ask for Your provision, for favor in the process, and for a peaceful heart that trusts You regardless of the outcome. Help her to remember all You have done, to call upon Your name, and to find her deepest security and permanence in Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.