Prayer February 18, 2024

Our heavenly Father and gracious God,

we thank you and praise you. Lord, we still do not even grasp the wonder of your majesty. We still peer through dark, tinted glass at your glory but the little that we see only helps us to know that when it is fully it is fully revealed, we will have no word, only our bodies to worship with, falling down before you.

Right now we see your glory through the work of your Son, Jesus. We see his perfect sinless life. It was a righteous life that did not just refrain from evil, but did good too. He rebuked the self-righteous. He chided abusive leadership. He went and sought out for the lost sheep be they prostitutes, tax-collectors or other kinds of sinners. That was a righteous life in your sight. He loved you all while doing it. He loved you perfectly. And he loved people made in the image of God. He demonstrated that in various ways, but in no greater way than by laying down his life in sacrifice on the cross.

Thank you for laying down your life for your people. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who applies your the perfect life, death and resurrection life of Jesus to your people whom you call to yourself.

Father, we pray that you would continue to call many to yourself. We pray for the people of Citrus Valley, whom we were able to serve this weekend with a meal and fun, that you would call some of them to yourself. We pray for that entire community of people. We pray for their flourishing and well-being. Help us to be able to listen to the needs that they have and help us to know how we can serve them. We pray particularly for Neida Trevino and her daughter with health issues. Whatever the need, we pray that you would provide what they need physically and spiritually as she deals with her issue.

We pray for the health of Rob Fry as well. Father, thank you for the musical talents that you have graced him with and that he was able to glorify you again with it at Citrus Valley. Getting older is hard for everyone, but we know that you give grace. Sustain our brother so that he may continue to serve and glorify you in body and soul as he is a blessing to not only Phoebe, but to others, including us.

Father, be with the Crossing as well. Give wisdom and courage to all of us who are seeking the expansion of your visible kingdom in the work of The Crossing. Help us to be a church that loves one another. Help us to be a church that serves. Help us to be a church that disciples. Help us be a church that goes into the world in obedience to your great commission. Help us be a church that uses the gifts of its members to serve one another and encourage one another.

We pray for Gama and his family as they continue in the work of your kingdom to raise up a church. Give him wisdom and courage to continue. Clothe him in the full armor of God to withstand the attacks of the enemy. Sustain him even as you sustained Elijah in ministry and in times of discouragement. Lord, you’ve sustained me in low times, in valleys that seem full of shadow and despair. You give grace. Send the angels that he needs with bread from heaven to sustain him.

We continue to pray for our nation and the nations of the world. Have mercy, O Lord. Times are hard for some economically and spiritually. Help us to love each other in the midst of our politics. Help us to be people of truth who are committed to the ethics and political vision of your kingdom for people rather than the political visions and illusions of our human politics.

We ask all of this in Jesus name,

Amen.