Reading and Prayer 3/29/20

(NASB95)

18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.

22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.

23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

Father in Heaven we come before you today in worship. You O Lord are enthroned in the heavens. You are the author and maker of all creation. You are God and there is no one like you. At your voice, creation was made. You spoke and stars were fashioned. You commanded and mountains rose up. You decreed and land sprang forth from the sea. You breathed and life was born. And yet, you, the creator of the Universe, who’s voice is more powerful than anything in this world, you have chosen to speak to us. You have revealed yourself to us. And you didn’t stop there, you chose us from the foundation fo the world to be your most prized possession. As we have learned in your amazing letter to the Church at Ephesus, you have showered us with every spiritual blessing. You have redeemed us from slavery to sin with the blood of your Son Jesus Christ who paid our debt with His perfect, sinless life. Because you have placed us in Him, we have recieved forgiveness of our many sins. And you didn’t stop there. You lavished upon us all wisdom and knowledge. You revealed to us the mysteries of your will, things that were hidden from all mankind for thousands of years. You have made us to be inheritors of that which belongs to your Son. And you sealed these promises for us with the pouring out of Your Holy Spirit upon us. You did this, you loved us like this, all while we were yet sinners. We were your enemies and yet you loved us. Oh God, we cry out with David, who are we that you are mindful of us.

Lord God we come to you today seeking your mercy. Renew in us a clean heart O God. We are a sinful and weak people who daily seek the fulfil the lusts and desires of our sinful flesh instead of worshiping you alone. We are unholy. We are unclean. Wash us so that we may be white as snow. Grant us strength to kill our sins of pride, anger, anxiety, doubt, unbelief, lust, laziness, gossip and hatred. Shape us and mold us into the image of your Son. Make us to be holy for you O God our holy. Help us to presently live lives that are consistent with our eternal position of righteous perfection in your Son.

God, you are our Father. We thank you today for cleansing us from our sin and our filth, for ransoming us from the slave market of sin and making us your children. We thank you for your provision O God for every spiritual and physical need that we have. Lord you provide for the birds, how much more so for those whom you call son and daughter. We thank you for the opportunity to hear you speak to us from your Word. We thank you that we do not need some sinful and feebly man to intercede on our behalf but that you hear our prayers and that we can commune with you directly through the mediation of our Great High Priest Jesus Christ. We thank you for this church, for these brothers and sisters that you have chosen for us to call family. And we thank you for the hope that is ours in Christ Jesus, that one day, our sin will be done away with and we shall see you face to face.

Father, we come to you with our requests and our needs knowing that you will answer all according to your sovereign will and that you are able to do more abundantly than all that we ask or think. Abba, grant healing to our people who are struggling with disease, pain and sickness. Grant provision to those who are struggling to pay their bills and buy food. Grant wisdom to doctors who are caring for our people. Grant discernment to the president and governor and mayor and lawmakers that your have sovereignly placed over us. Grant protection from this virus that is devastating this world. Grant us faith in your sovereignty. Grant us hope in your promises. Grant us love for our neighbors. Grant us unity with each other even in this time of seperation. Grant us a quick end to this time apart. and grant us victory over temptations. Lord we ask that you would Enlighten the eyes of our hearts so that we may know the hope to which you have called us, so that we may know the riches of our glorious inheritance, so that we may comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ. We pray this now in the powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord, the King of Kings, Amen.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

English Standard Version Chapter 3

18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.