We join with you in lifting up the GriefShare and Celebrate Recovery groups before the throne of grace, thanking God for these ministries of healing and restoration. We praise Him for every facilitator who faithfully serves and for every attendee who has taken the courageous step to seek comfort and wholeness in Christ.
We pray that each person in these groups will indeed experience a loving, stronger, and closer walk with the Lord. The Word tells us that Psalm 34:18 says The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. And Matthew 5:4 reminds us Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. We ask the Father of mercies and God of all comfort to draw near to every grieving and struggling heart, as 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 teaches that He comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
We pray for deep healing and encouragement for all who attend. Psalm 147:3 promises He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. We ask that His healing would touch every wound of loss, addiction, hurt and habit, and that His encouragement would sustain them day by day. For the grace you requested to make everything manageable, we cling to His promise in 2 Corinthians 12:9 where He says My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. We pray that His grace would be abundant and sufficient for every need, every meeting, and every step forward, and that Philippians 4:6-7 would be real in their lives, that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard their hearts and their thoughts in Christ Jesus.
We lift up all who facilitate these groups, that God would bless them, strengthen them, give them wisdom and discernment, and refresh them as they pour out to others. We pray that more will come, that those who are hurting and isolated would be drawn in, and that all would come closer to Christ. James 4:8 tells us Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. May each group be a place where lives are drawn near to Jesus and find new purpose and meaning. We pray they will know the hope of Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future, and Ephesians 2:10 that they are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.
Father, we pray together in the name of Jesus Christ that You would continue to bless these groups, let Your comfort, Your healing, Your grace and Your purpose overflow in every heart, and let every person find their ultimate comfort and identity in a closer walk with You. We ask all this in Jesus' name, amen.