Silas
Beloved of All
Thank you for sharing your heart and those unspoken requests before the Lord. He hears even what is not put into words, and He knows the needs you carry silently. We join you in bringing them to Him in the name of Jesus.
We thank God with you for His grace. Scripture presents this present age as an age of grace, in which God relates to us not on the basis of what we deserve but on the basis of His unmerited favor toward us in Christ. The word itself carries the idea of beauty and charm, and in its deepest meaning it is favor we could never earn. By revelation this mystery was made known, that through Jesus we who were far off are made partakers of His goodness and kindness.
That grace is the ground where we stand. We have access into it by faith, and being justified by grace we are made heirs of the hope of eternal life. It is not by works, for grace and works cannot be mixed as if one completes the other. If it is by grace it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would not be grace. If it were by works, grace would have no place. We are accepted not because we have earned a standing before God, but because He has accounted us righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.
Where sin abounded, grace overflowed all the more, that grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. This does not give license to remain in sin, for we have died with Christ and are called to walk in newness of life. Yet it does mean we need not disqualify ourselves when we see our own failure. His grace is greater than all our sin, grace that pardons and cleanses within. Even when we are aware of our weakness, we can look to His love and grace rather than to ourselves.
So we can come with thanksgiving, which God desires from His children. He has given us grace and then peace, and the order is always that way. Grace comes first, and peace follows. Having received His grace in Christ, we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, knowing that we will give Him praise without end for His mercy toward us.
We pray for you now. Father, we thank You for the glorious gospel of grace revealed in Jesus Christ, that salvation is through faith in Him alone. We thank You for the grace given to us by Jesus Christ and for access into that grace by faith. We bring before You these silent requests that are known fully to You. You see each burden, each need, each person and situation represented in them. We ask that You work according to Your perfect will, with wisdom, mercy and love. Grant peace that comes from Your grace, strengthen faith, provide what is needed, and draw each heart closer to fellowship with You. Help us to walk after Your Spirit, to live in thanksgiving rather than complaint, and to rest in the righteousness we have through Jesus. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
We thank God with you for His grace. Scripture presents this present age as an age of grace, in which God relates to us not on the basis of what we deserve but on the basis of His unmerited favor toward us in Christ. The word itself carries the idea of beauty and charm, and in its deepest meaning it is favor we could never earn. By revelation this mystery was made known, that through Jesus we who were far off are made partakers of His goodness and kindness.
That grace is the ground where we stand. We have access into it by faith, and being justified by grace we are made heirs of the hope of eternal life. It is not by works, for grace and works cannot be mixed as if one completes the other. If it is by grace it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would not be grace. If it were by works, grace would have no place. We are accepted not because we have earned a standing before God, but because He has accounted us righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.
Where sin abounded, grace overflowed all the more, that grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. This does not give license to remain in sin, for we have died with Christ and are called to walk in newness of life. Yet it does mean we need not disqualify ourselves when we see our own failure. His grace is greater than all our sin, grace that pardons and cleanses within. Even when we are aware of our weakness, we can look to His love and grace rather than to ourselves.
So we can come with thanksgiving, which God desires from His children. He has given us grace and then peace, and the order is always that way. Grace comes first, and peace follows. Having received His grace in Christ, we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, knowing that we will give Him praise without end for His mercy toward us.
We pray for you now. Father, we thank You for the glorious gospel of grace revealed in Jesus Christ, that salvation is through faith in Him alone. We thank You for the grace given to us by Jesus Christ and for access into that grace by faith. We bring before You these silent requests that are known fully to You. You see each burden, each need, each person and situation represented in them. We ask that You work according to Your perfect will, with wisdom, mercy and love. Grant peace that comes from Your grace, strengthen faith, provide what is needed, and draw each heart closer to fellowship with You. Help us to walk after Your Spirit, to live in thanksgiving rather than complaint, and to rest in the righteousness we have through Jesus. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
