Upcoming events in my life

[Jesus_is_king]

Topic Automatically Translated From English Language:

There are some upcoming events in my life that I feel may need prayer for, some more than others.

1) church. As always, church service, but I think it's important for that to be prayed over, as God can help me & those in my church even more than He has already. God has helped me to speak to people I didn't know, & as an introvert that's hard for me, but Jesus ordained it all, as it was a little out of my comfort zone, but the way He made it happen was comfortable for me, slow paced, not too full on, & as He knows me better than I know myself, I have full confidence that it was all Jesus. The members of my church tend to not talk about Jesus after the service, when chatting with everyone, so if I am able & get myself to do it, or more so walk in God's leading, then I do talk about Jesus, being a witness of Jesus is lovely, but I shame myself a lot when I don't go in His leading & say something I know I should, instead of leaning on Him, I sometimes lean on my flesh & don't go in His leading. My church tends to speak messages that aren't unbiblical, but they're not exactly convicting either, I personally feel like they're ear tickling messages mostly, but I'm not really sure what I should be hearing in the sermon of my church, as it's the main church I've ever actually been to, as in for church services. There's a lot of people at my church who are hurting & I don't know all their problems, but as an intercessor, I feel like that's why I sometimes hear them say a little bit about their problems, like God is letting me in on something important to pray over, but I don't always tend to pray over those situations & those people. I don't wanna overdo it, but nor do I wanna under do it. I don't know anyone else who is an intercessor, so I'm not really sure how to go about it all, as I've not had much experience. I've been a Christian for 3 years, but only as of less than a year in this journey, I have actually been an intercessor, so just this year, & not the whole of it, more so recently in the last couple or so months.

2) next Wednesday & every other Wednesday is my church's home group, which is one of the many. So my home group is quite small & the conversation tends to go off a lot, so we watch a video based on the Bible's toughest topics, which is only a short video, & as we have 1hr 30 mins for the session, a lot of that tends to be going off into a random conversation that isn't edifying nor about Jesus, which is a common theme in my church, & as an introvert, I find it so much easier to talk to someone when it's about Jesus, because I know how to be a witness of Jesus, even from such little experience & I think this is where the pride & judgement comes in because I have been a Christian for less than a lot of them, but I wanna talk about Jesus is kinda my mindset a lot of the time, but need to surrender those thoughts to the Lord, which I'm not so sure on how to do, other than what I found out from a church member yesterday, which I found quite helpful, & she is one of the few that I can see as a Christian who I can see bears the fruit of the Spirit, like you can tell she's genuine. A lot of the time when a lot of people are speaking & if there's not a gap of quiet, I don't tend to be able to get a word in, so i can't change the conversation, especially as I'm tryna be slow to speak & quick to listen, which is easy as an introvert, but not easy when I have so much to say about Jesus & what He's done for me & even the knowledge that He has revealed to me over time. And sometimes if there's "not enough" people coming to the session that night, then it tends to get cancelled, so then have to wait 2 weeks for the next one, which I don't really like, especially as one was because of the football world cup.

3) every other thursday my church has a discussion group, which was yesterday. I have been to at least 4 sessions, & for the most part, I don't speak, as everyone is speaking about whatever, again the conversation goes to something else. Normally we ask questions about Jesus & anything in that realm, but as of yesterday's session & the one before, we have started the practicing the way course, so we watch the video & discuss it, & that's where it tends to go off topic. There have been some odd bits of the Holy Spirit speaking through these people, especially one session that was so good, but other than that, I get put off, but I wanna fellowship with other believers, as a lot of the time I'm with unbelievers, my family & their friends or I'm at home by myself in my room or talk to my family a little, as i'm only young so i live with them. Sometimes a little mocking of Jesus goes on in this group as well, more so by certain people, or it's sometimes not a mocking of Jesus entirely, but it's a thing that doesn't sit right with me, like yesterday the pastor killed a fly & then did the cross sign afterwards, I don't know if that's just me, but I didn't feel right about that or when he said something felt like hell, which again didn't sit right with me.

4) my mum & 2 of her friends, or maybe 3 are going to a garage night, so lots of music & dancing & I'm not sure if they'll be drinking, but the third is one they all don't seem to like, especially as the event they're going to is a specific thing & that third friend thought it was something else, so basically getting bullied & gossiped by these women behind her back or even being mean to her face, well more so 1 of the woman, as we don't live so close as they all do, so we're not really there for that. So, I will be at 1 of the woman's houses with my brother, the woman's 2 sons, & the other woman's son, maybe her daughter as well, unless she stays at home as she's older than the boys. As I'm older than all of them it feels weird, but I've known them since I was little, so it's not that weird, but I feel like God placed me here for a reason, as I've been able to share the gospel, through the power of Jesus, as an introvert, to the woman's 2 sons & the other woman's son, & my brother was there for both. So my mum & brother are unbelievers. The woman with the 2 sons claims to be Catholic but I don't see her bearing the fruit of the Spirit, her youngest son is interested in Jesus, but as he's young, he doesn't tend to take it seriously, so kinda how I was at the start of my journey, so perhaps he's in the sanctification process. Then the oldest son doesn't believe in Jesus, instead in Greek gods I think & he's autistic, so he tends to say things a lot that he shouldn't. The other woman's son is also an unbeliever & so is her daughter, or at least that I'm aware of, but the woman is another who claims to be Catholic but I don't see her bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Then the third woman is also an unbeliever, but her daughter is a Christian, but has kinda backslidden from the faith, I'm not sure if she's still in it, but I know that she doesn't wanna leave the house as she feels she has no friends & unfortunately I have no way of contacting her, I mean she is younger, but as a fellow Christian, I feel like God could use me to speak to her, especially as her church lacks in talking about Jesus & that's what she wants to do, like me. So yeah that will be in the afternoon or evening. As the oldest, I have the most responsibility, I mean the grandad who lives with them will be there, but as he's half deaf & leaves them to it, I will be the most responsible, so i pray that the Lord will speak through me & guide me, as i'm gonna need it.

4) on the same day as the garage night, me & my mum & brother will be looking at a college, a little bit for my brother, but also for me. We don't know what to expect as we've never been to that college before, but have been in that area. So if God wants me to speak through to someone & be a witness of Him, then He will have to do most of it, as I freeze up in moments like that.

5) halloween. On halloween, the friends I mentioned above (but not the third woman or her daughter I don't think) are doing trick or treating, but beforehand, they are going to a pumpkin patch, where there's a maze, a haunted house, & of course a pumpkin patch. So I just pray that the Lord watches over them & keeps them safe & that Jesus speaks through them to each other & to others & that other people also have Jesus speaking through them.

6) on Halloween, me, my mum & my brother are probably going to a Halloween parade, as well as arcades in the day time. So the parade is when it's dark & it's so busy. It's mostly kids, but as we know halloween is dark & about death & evil. So I pray that the Lord protects us, guides us, speaks through us to each other & to others & that others have Jesus speaking through them as well. I also pray that I can be the light in the darkness & that whatever it is that Jesus wants me to do, I pray that He will lead me & that I walk in His leading & obey Him, just like I did when preaching the gospel to the friends above. But as an introvert, which I always tend to use as an excuse, I don't even talk to strangers in general, let alone about Jesus, so i don't know, is that what God would want from me?

Thank you to anyone who replies or prays for these, God bless you

 

[Articles]

We thank you for sharing so openly and with such a tender heart for the Lord and for others. We have read your requests and we are joining with you in prayer, seeking God's will together in Jesus' name.

We rejoice that you speak so often of Jesus, for it is only through His name that we have access to the Father and it is only by His name that we are saved. As it is written, Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me John 14:6 and There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved Acts 4:12. If you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, that He died for your sins and rose again, and confessed Him as Lord, you are saved Romans 10:9, and we encourage you to continue to rest in that assurance and to make His name known, for you already do.

We see your love for your church and your desire to be a faithful witness there. We pray with you for your Sunday services. You discern correctly that messages should not merely be ear tickling but should convict and build up in sound doctrine. The Scripture warns For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts and will turn away their ears from the truth 2 Timothy 4:3-4. We encourage you to test all teaching by the Word like the Bereans who received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so Acts 17:11. Pray for your pastors and teachers that they would preach the whole counsel of God with boldness Titus 2:1. And do not forsake assembling together Hebrews 10:25, even when fellowship feels shallow. God can use you as salt and light precisely where conversation drifts from Him.

You mention feelings of shame when you do not speak as you feel led, and leaning on the flesh instead of the Spirit. We gently rebuke that shame, for there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus Romans 8:1. Conviction from the Holy Spirit draws us to repentance, but shame that beats you down is not from God. We also must rebuke the thought of using introversion as an excuse, though we understand the struggle. God says My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness 2 Corinthians 12:9 and For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control 2 Timothy 1:7. He made you and knows you better than you know yourself, and He will give you words when you ask. Be quick to listen and slow to speak James 1:19, but when He opens a door, speak the truth in love Ephesians 4:15. Surrendering thoughts to the Lord means taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:5 and being transformed by the renewing of your mind Romans 12:2. Bring those prideful or judgmental thoughts, and the comparison that you have been a Christian for less time yet want to talk about Jesus more, to Him in prayer and ask Him to give you humility Romans 12:3 and love that believes the best.

Concerning your gift as an intercessor, we affirm this calling. You hear little bits of others hurts and feel God letting you in to pray. That is from Him. Pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much James 5:16. We encourage you not to worry about overdoing or underdoing, but to be faithful to pray as He brings people to mind 1 Timothy 2:1, keeping a small list if it helps, and trusting Him with the results. He who searches hearts knows what you cannot.

For your home group and discussion group, we hear your frustration when conversation goes off into unedifying talk and when gatherings are cancelled for lack of attendance or for a football match. Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up as the need may be Ephesians 4:29 and Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt Colossians 4:6. We encourage you to gently steer conversation back to Christ when you can, and to pray for hunger for the Word among the group. We must also address with love the irreverence you described, the mocking, the killing of a fly and making the sign of the cross, and casual talk that felt like hell. God is not mocked Galatians 6:7 and we are to have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them Ephesians 5:11. Such lightness about holy things and about hell, which is real and terrible, does not sit right because the Spirit in you is grieved. Pray for your pastor and for that group, and if the Lord gives opportunity, speak to him privately in meekness Matthew 18:15.

For the garage night and your time watching the children, we see God's placement of you there for a purpose. You have already been used to share the gospel with those boys and your brother, and we praise God for that. We pray for protection and wisdom as you carry responsibility that evening, even with a grandfather present who is hard of hearing. We must rebuke the gossip and bullying among the women toward the third friend. A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends Proverbs 16:28 and gossip tears down. Pray that God would convict them and give you grace to not partake, but to show kindness and to speak a word for that third woman when appropriate. Also be on guard concerning music, dancing and possible drinking, for we are to be sober minded 1 Peter 5:8 and not conformed to this world Romans 12:2. Be a light there, watch over the children with diligence, and share Christ as He gives utterance Acts 1:8. We also note those who claim to be Catholic yet do not bear the fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23, and the young man trusting in Greek gods. Salvation is not by a religious label but by faith in Jesus alone, and idolatry is forbidden Exodus 20:3. Continue to pray for their salvation and to live the gospel before them. For your brother and mother who are unbelievers, we join you in praying for their eyes to be opened 2 Corinthians 4:4. For the backslidden daughter who feels she has no friends and stays home, we pray God would lift her isolation and draw her back, for He restores the wandering James 5:19-20.

For the college visit with your mother and brother, we pray for peace. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God Philippians 4:6-7. He will be with you, Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. For Yahweh your God will be with you wherever you go Joshua 1:9. If He wants you to speak to someone, He will make the way even when you feel you freeze. Just be available and trust Him.

Concerning Halloween, the pumpkin patch with its maze and haunted house, trick or treating, and the parade and arcades, we must speak plainly in love. Halloween glorifies darkness, death and evil, and Scripture says Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness Ephesians 5:11 and Abstain from every form of evil 1 Thessalonians 5:22. There shall not be found with you anyone who practices divination or sorcery Deuteronomy 18:10-12. We understand your desire to be a light in darkness, and indeed You are the light of the world Matthew 5:14-16, but we are called to be separate and not to participate in works of darkness in order to reach people. We encourage you to consider whether God would have you abstain from the haunted house, the parade that celebrates darkness, and trick or treating, and instead redeem the time Ephesians 5:15-16 by using the evening for prayer, hospitality, or sharing the true light of Christ in a way that does not join in darkness. If you do go, we pray for strong protection and discernment, that you would not be conformed but would shine with holiness.

We pray together now. Father, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son. We thank You for this young believer who loves You and wants to walk in Your leading. Fill them with Your Holy Spirit, with boldness and love and self-control. Take away shame and fear and give them confidence that You are with them. We lift up their church, their pastors and every hurting person there, every home group and discussion group, that Your Word would be preached with power and that conversation would be edifying and centered on Christ. Give them words when to speak and grace when to be silent, and help them to take every thought captive to You. Make them faithful in intercession and teach them how to pray. We lift up the mothers and children at the garage night, the boys who have heard the gospel, the one drawn to Jesus, the one trusting idols, the Catholic women, the bullied friend and her daughter who has wandered, the brother and mother who do not yet believe, the grandfather, and all the children under their care. Save them, Lord, and keep them safe. We lift up the college visit, give clear direction and peace and open doors for Your will. And we lift up Halloween, we ask for protection over all those children and families, and for wisdom for Your child to walk as light and not have fellowship with darkness, to obey You rather than fear man. Lead them in every upcoming event, that they would walk in Your leading and obey, for Your glory. We cast all anxiety on You because You care for us 1 Peter 5:7. We ask all this in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear how much you want to walk faithfully in all that is coming up, and how seriously you take both loving Jesus and loving the people He has put around you. Being an introvert who deeply wants to be a witness can feel like a real tension, and the shame you feel when you stay quiet makes sense, but we don't see that as failure on your part. It sounds like God is growing you slowly and gently, just as you described, and that He has already helped you speak when you didn't expect you could.

For the intercession burden you carry, it may help to keep it simple and sustainable. When you hear someone share something heavy at church or in group, you could jot a first name and one line on your phone right afterward and pray briefly in that moment, rather than carrying a long list or worrying about doing enough. That keeps prayer immediate and light, and you don't have to hold everything alone.

For the home group and Thursday discussion where conversation drifts, it can be easier as an introvert to prepare one short thought or question beforehand, and if you feel able, share it quietly with the leader one to one after. Often a leader appreciates knowing someone wants to stay more centered on Jesus.

We are praying for you in these specific days, for rest instead of pressure, and for protection and clear guidance especially with the college visit and the Halloween gatherings when you will have extra responsibility for younger ones.

Father, thank You for this young believer's tender heart for You. Give him peace when he feels torn, wisdom to know when to speak and when to listen, and confidence that You are at work even in quiet faithfulness. Keep him and his family safe in the days ahead and lead him step by step. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

Your letter has been read with prayerful care, and we give thanks to God for the work He has already begun in you. That you, who count yourself an introvert, have been enabled to speak to those you did not know, and to speak of Christ when the room is silent about Him, is evidence that the Lord knows you better than you know yourself and orders your steps at a pace where His strength is made perfect in your weakness. Take courage from this, that what He has begun He will carry on.

Concerning the preaching you hear on the Lord's Day, you do well to desire not ear tickling words but a message that searches the heart. The faithful preacher must set forth guilt thoroughly and then set forth the cleansing thoroughly, for if sin is not seen in its blackness, the atonement will not be prized. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin, and where that truth is proclaimed, guilt is removed by the Son and guile is removed by the Spirit. Pray that your ministers may be given boldness to declare the whole counsel of God, that sin may be confessed and Christ exalted, and pray that you yourself may receive the word with a humble heart, willing to be convicted and willing to be comforted by Christ alone. Salvation is through Jesus Christ alone, and no other name or way can make the sinner blessed.

You speak of feeling the burden of an intercessor and not knowing whether you overdo or underdo the work. Know this, it is God that writes intercession upon men's hearts. When you hear a word of sorrow from a hurting soul and find it abiding upon your spirit afterwards, that is often the Spirit's own prompting. We know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us, and He helps us to pray in a proper manner according to the will of God. Samuel said, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you, and though the people had slighted him, he persevered in desperate hope. So do you persevere. Keep a little book of names if it helps you to be faithful, bring each one boldly unto the throne of grace, for we are invited to come boldly because we are children by faith in Christ Jesus. You need not fear that you pray too much, and you need not be cast down when you have prayed too little, but confess it and come again. The work of the Spirit is linked with the work of the Son, when the Son removes guilt, the Spirit removes guile, so that you may pray without hypocrisy, confessing all and humbly seeking mercy for others.

For your home group and the discussion group, we understand the trial of sitting among much talk that is not edifying, and of longing to speak of Jesus while being slow to speak and quick to listen. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak, and the Lord will give you fit words if you ask Him. When conversation goes off into vanity, a gentle question that turns hearts to Christ is often more powerful than a rebuke. Where there is mocking or levity that does not sit right with your conscience, as in making light of holy things or speaking of hell as a trifle, you are right to be grieved. The fear of man brings a snare, but the fear of God brings blessing. The Lord says, Fear not, for I will help you. Fear not, for I am with you. It is disobedience to be afraid when Jesus Himself whispers, Fear not. Ask Him for promised strength before you enter the room, labor to get rid of fear because fear is weakening and dishonors God, and then speak as He gives you utterance. If a meeting is cancelled for a poor reason, use that evening to pray for those who would have been there, that the next gathering may be ordered to edification.

For the evening when you will be the eldest among the children while your mother and her friends are at their gathering, we will pray that the Lord will make you a faithful steward of that responsibility. You have already seen how God has opened doors to speak the gospel to those boys, and we pray He will do so again with gentleness and wisdom. Remember that to claim a name, as Catholic or otherwise, without bearing the fruit of the Spirit and without trusting in Christ alone, will not save. Pray for that youngest boy who shows interest, that it may prove to be the beginning of true sanctification, and for the elder who is given to vain imaginations, that God would bring him from darkness to light. Pray also for the daughter who has grown cold and feels alone, that the Lord who sees her would send her true fellowship and restore her joy in Christ, whether by you or by another whom He appoints. Speak the gospel plainly, that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus, not by outward religion.

For the college visit with your mother and brother, we will pray that the Lord will take away the freezing of fear and give you peace. You need not contrive great speeches, but be ready to give an answer for the hope within you when the Lord opens the door. He that searches the hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, and He will help you.

For the pumpkin patch with its maze and haunted house, and for the parade and arcades on that night which the world calls Halloween, we will pray for protection over you and over those dear to you. That night is indeed associated with darkness and death and evil, and the child of God is called to be light in darkness and to abstain from every appearance of evil. We do not ask God to bless the works of darkness, but we do ask Him to keep you unspotted, to guard the children from harm and from fear, and to make you bold to shine as a light. If you must be present in busy and dark places, walk in His leading, obey His promptings, and trust that He will speak through you to others as He has done before. Whether others have Jesus speaking through them will depend on whether they know Him, so pray for their salvation.

We will bring all these matters before the throne. May the Lord give you perfect love which casts out fear, a clean conscience through the blood of Christ, and a persevering spirit in intercession, that you may be found faithful in praying and in witnessing until He comes.

Our prayer for you is this, O Lord, grant to this young believer boldness to come unto the throne of grace, help in knowing what to pray for as ought, deliverance from the fear of man, and grace to confess Christ before family, church, and strangers. Keep this one and all these households under the covering of the atonement, cleanse from all sin by the blood of Jesus, and make this life a witness that others may be drawn to the Savior. In the name of Jesus Christ our only hope, Amen.

 

[usha rani]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[Blessed and Thankful]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.