Circle Of Prayer


Intercessory prayer is the purifying bath into which the individual
and the community must enter every day.
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

intercessory prayer finding solace

Before You Ask

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:7-8)

Many people think their prayers won’t work if they don’t utter them clearly enough, or fail to explain to God exactly what they mean, or don’t speak loudly enough to him with sufficient earnestness. But when this happens, prayer becomes so exaggerated that our Savior even forbids it.

Obviously Jesus does not want to discourage us from praying. His point is that when we pray we must have a sense of proportion. Once we have prayed, we must be quiet. We need to be like the farmer who has sown his seed. Help will come only when you are quiet in faith. Also in your sickness or with other needs, learn to be still and look to the Kingdom of God.

We can share our needs with the Father in a few words, without making a fuss, and rest assured that God already knows what we need and what he will do to help us. We don’t have to explain our requests in great detail to God, or try and make quite sure that he knows our needs. God knows about even the smallest matters and takes them straight into his heart. We can turn to him by glancing Heavenward, with no words at all. We can do this even when we pray about something concrete and tangible, or about something that specifically troubles us. We may realize that what we thought we needed is actually not necessary and that we can find a way right in the midst of how things are now.

This doesn’t mean that we just let things happen – as if everything will come of its own accord without our longing for it. Nor should we just cast a brief and hurried request at God’s feet. When this happens, we too easily lose sight of God, assume that everything comes to us without his help, and we forget to thank him. Then we cease to have a believing heart and are consequently not true children of God.

Jesus said, “Before you ask him.” Therefore we do need to make our requests known to him, otherwise many things will not be given that could have been given. It never displeases God when we come to him with our heartfelt requests. A real child asks for everything, knowing God has an ear for him. We should bring all our burdens and needs to him, for at the very least this helps to make us ever more aware that in all things God is the giver.

God always has our interest in mind. He carries our various needs with fatherly concern, eagerly waiting for us to come to him. He has not forgotten us. And when we feel tempted to think so, then all the more we should remember that he knows it all and cares for us. In fact, he knows much more about us and our needs than we do. Simple, childlike prayer is enough to move his heart, give you something out of the fullness of his compassion, and save you from all sorts of fear and trouble.

(Johann Christoph Blumhardt)

(The God Who Heals, Words of Hope for a Time of Sickness)


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Julia

A Prayer For Refugees

God of the exiles, you cared for the Israelites through their captivity in Egypt and later in Assyria. Care for and protect every person whose home is no longer safe, who has been forced to flee, who is living in a crowded camp, not knowing whether they will be taken in elsewhere. Bring them to safety so that they can live in joy and peace, without fear. God of the exiles, hear our prayer.

God of all nations, you are the Prince of Peace, and you promise that one day nation will not lift up sword against nation (Isa. 2:4). Mediate the conflicts between governments and people groups that make whole countries unsafe for their citizens. Overcome evil with good, and bring an end to terrorism around the world so that people everywhere can know the goodness of your reign. God of all nations, hear our prayer.

God of our hearts, in Jesus Christ, you have broken down the dividing wall of hostility between humanity and you. We were once far off, but you have sought us out and brought us near, even while we were sinners and strangers to your grace (Eph. 2:13-14). By the power of your Spirit, transform us with your trust, love, and generosity. Help us to extend your grace to others, regarding them as we would regard Jesus himself, so that we can be faithful ambassadors to you and your gospel of reconciliation, and so that your kingdom would break in even now. God of our hearts, hear our prayer.

Amen.

(Reformed Church in America)

Received: July 17, 2018

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