Father,

We humbly come to your throne of grace

In the name of your beloved Son, Jesus.

The pandemic is still raging in the world,

War rampant and famine lurking in every corner.

Yet we have failed to look up to you, the God of all creation

Who has the power to fix all problems

Please help us humble ourselves before you.

Lord, our ancestors did.

And you heard and delivered them time and again.

Lord, we have ignored and have rejected you

We have gone our own way

Regardless that you have created us.

We have forgotten that you are always watching us

You are omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent.

King David wrote, ‘Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.'

Prophet Jeremiah wrote Your words,

Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the LORD.

“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”declares the LORD. 

We have become unresponsive to your Word.

We have neglected the God who loves us.

Yet You are merciful and gracious and give us one more chance to repent.

Before it becomes too late help us turn to you.

You said to your people in the past,

‘If my people, who are called by my name,

will humble themselves and pray and seek my face

and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven,

and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.'

Lord, we repent for our egotism  and self-will

Exploitation and intolerance,

Relentless materialism.

We have lost mercy and compassion, which you have called us to.

We have lived in the flesh and impoverished the spirit.

Have mercy on us.

People are hurting around us

But we live in our private worlds.

Loneliness is haunting many

Fear is palpable in the air.

Addictions destroy  many precious lives

Misguided youth

Neglected children

There is no respect for life.

Broken families

Increasing homelessness

Deliver us from our apathy and indifference.

Lord, we bow our heads and humbly repent of our sins.

King Jehoshaphat cried out to God in his distress,

‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment,

or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence

before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress,

and you will hear us and save us.’

Elohim, we cry out to you to save us during the pandemic, war and famine.

You gave us the name of your son, Jesus.

Jesus, you shed your blood to redeem us.

You are our hope and strength.

You gave us your Word to claim.

You sent your Holy Spirit to guide us

So we earnestly look up and call again on the name of – JESUS

Our Deliverer. Savior. Lord.

- Amen.

Posted May 2022

                                             -Written by Hepsi

Father,

We come to you in the name of Jesus, your beloved Son,

You are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

We are your covenant children.

We need miracles and breakthroughs in our lives.

Your Word declares, “all things are possible with God.”

Lord, you know us better than we do ourselves.

Because we are fearfully and wonderfully made by you.

You are our great provider, physician, deliverer, protector, and savior

We commit our circumstances into your powerful hands.

We tried our best efforts. Yet we are weak, but you are strong.

We surrender all to you. We seek divine intervention in human matters.

‘If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’ You spoke.

You provided manna in the desert for your people of old.

You healed the woman who touched the hem of your garment by faith.

Surely your goodness and love will follow us forever.

Lord, you parted the red sea for your children, and they crossed over safely.

You will do the same for us today. Jesus, we know

You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Every challenge and difficulty we face, we give it to you.

There is nothing too hard for you.

‘Will, not God bring about justice for his chosen ones,

Who cry out to him day and night?’

Yes, Lord, you will see that they get justice, and quickly.

You make a way in the wilderness

You cause streams to burst forth in the desert

No situation, problem, or circumstance is too difficult for you to unravel.

You stilled a raging storm when your disciples cried out

With these three words: Peace, be still.

In love, you redeemed us with your precious blood on the cross.

Jehovah Jireh, our provider, Holy Spirit our guide, Jesus our savior

Grant us the breakthroughs we need today.

You showed mercy on a broken-hearted mother by raising her dead son back to life.

For Your compassions never fail.

They are new every morning and great is your faithfulness.

Lord, hear the prayers and petitions of your covenant children today.

We are as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Lord, hear the heart cries of your people everywhere.

May we never give up or lose hope whatever be our situation.

For we know and rely on the love you have for us.

Lord, we praise you for your great faithfulness generation after generation.

You who answer prayer to you all people will come.

Finish the work you began in each of us.

Fill us daily with your peace that transcends all understanding

El-Shaddai, be glorified, be magnified.

You alone are holy. You are worthy of all praise. You are absolutely trustworthy.

Lord, we worship you. We love and trust you. We submit to you.

In Jesus’s mighty name.  Amen.

© Hepsimp 2022

Prayer for your children:

Father,

Thank you for pouring out Your Spirit on my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and every descendent of mine for generations to come. Thank you that your blessings are flowing into their lives. They will all grow healthy and strong in You.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

                               -Written by Hepsi

Most merciful, ever-living and all-powerful God

You are the God Most High

Creator of all things, you are Sovereign.

Power and might are in Your Hand.

You sent Your Only Son, Jesus, our Savior

Who redeemed humankind with His precious blood,

By His death, burial and resurrection

The works of the Devil He has destroyed.

Blessed Holy Spirit by Your mighty power

You raised up the early Church

Of many tongues at Pentecost.

By Your divine will it was established

As the healing centre of the world.

Today our world lies in turmoil and confusion

While the church seems to have lost its vision.

Lord, we repent, cry, and self-examine our lives before you.

Deliver us from anger, resentment, self-pity;

Our pride, selfishness and greed,

Save us from our ego, grant us the Mind of Christ

We seek a new beginning today

Lord, in Your mercy,  heal our world.

Plague, conflict, natural calamities and political instability

Mark our world.

Mistrust, misunderstandings and strife untold.

Lord, we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.

Unite the fragmented church, its grand vision revive

To love God and neighbour

Young, old all join together and labour

Reclaim Jesus’ mission:

To proclaim the good news to the poor

And freedom for the prisoners.

To open blind eyes and set the oppressed free.

May we be Your hands and feet 

To touch lives, restore, build bridges.

Offer those caught in the web of despair

Heavenly manna, Your powerful Word.

O God of love, power and might,

Come, heal our world.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

'Our prayer may be noisy and expressive, or it may be very quiet. It may be the kind of prayer that depends on listening in stillness and silence with complete attention: listening to the crickets as they pulse at night, listening to the rain as it falls, listening to our breath as we breathe God in and breathe God out, listening to the inner voice of love that is always sounding in our heart.'

—Margaret Bullitt-Jonas

God loves us. His motive in making us was love. His greatest longing is that we should get to know him, come to love him, enjoy his company.

And when we talk to God or listen to him, head to head, heart to heart, this is prayer.

- Andrew Knowles

"He who knows how to overcome with God in prayer has heaven and earth at his disposal."

   - Charles Spurgeon

The Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of prayer." He is definitely called by this name in Zechariah 12:10:

"The spirit of grace and of supplications."

-Andrew Murray

"God refuses to give up, and we who are enlisted to be fellow-workers with God know that the only reason we continue is that death did not have the last word; that Good Friday was not the end of the story."

-ArchBishop Desmond Tutu

"Prayer is the breeding ground of Hope."

- Jana Alcorn

"It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must patiently, believing, continue in prayer until we obtain an answer."

- George Mueller

Here is a stunning promise of Jesus:

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it." John 15: 7

We come to God by ourselves or with others.

Sometimes we stick to the prayers in a book. Sometimes we make up our own.

Sometimes we have a mix.

Sometimes we wait on him in silence.

Sometimes we blurt a few words.

Sometimes we really go to town and make the biggest and best  noise we possibly can.

Sometimes we sit or kneel - or stand.

Sometimes we dance.

Sometimes we drop the programme and let the Spirit do his thing.

The exercise is called, 'palms down, palms up.'

Begin by placing your palms down as a symbolic indication of your desire to turn over any concerns you may have to God. Inwardly you may pray, "Lord, I give to you my anger toward John. I release my fear of my dentist appointment this morning. I surrender my anxiety over not having enough money to pay the bills this month. I release my frustration over trying to find a baby-sitter for tonight." Whatever it is that weighs on your mind or is a concern to you, just say,"Palms down". Release it. You many even feel a certain sense of release in your hands.

After several moments of surrender, turn your palms up as a symbol of of your desire to receive from the Lord. Perhaps you will pray silently: "Lord, I would like to receive your divine love for John, your peace about the dentist appointment, your patience, your joy." Whatever you need, you say, "palms up". 

Having "centred down", spend the remaining moments in complete silence. Do not ask for anything. Allow the Lord to commune with your spirit, to love you. If impressions or directions come, fine; if not, fine.

- Richard Foster

How little we realize the great importance of intercessory prayer.  If at this moment  you pray for someone, even though he is on the other side of the globe, the Lord Jesus will touch him.

- Corrie ten Boom

The Prayer of Jabez

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

1 Chronicles 4: 10 (NIV)

Preparation: [From Starting Out on the Way of Prayer - St Teresa of Avila]

Make the sign of the cross and place yourself before God as one who is a sinner. Then, as you are alone, look for a companion - and who could be better than the very Lord who taught you the prayer you are about to say. Imagine him beside you and notice how humbly and lovingly he is teaching you. If you ask him to stay with you during prayer he will never refuse your request. It is not necessary to think about him; just look at him as he longs for you to do since he is always looking at you. Keep at the side of this good Master and be most firmly resolved to learn what he is teaching you through the very words that fell from his divine lips.

The Lord's Prayer  [Matthew 6:9-13 King James Version]

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

¹⁰ Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.

¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

A Brief Reflection on the Lord’s Prayer – St Teresa of Avila

Our Father

Son of God and Lord of my heart, you give so much with these first words. How wonderful it is that you make yourself the brother of those who pray, giving us all there is to be given in making us children of the one Father, who is your Father also.

Who art in heaven

Lord, wherever you are, there is heaven.

However quietly we speak you are so near you will hear us.

You have made your dwelling place within me. May I never leave you alone but give myself to you freely and completely, allowing you to do with me whatever you desire.

Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come

We need to be taught to ask for particular things: that the Father’s name be made holy, that his kingdom may come. Lord, give me light to see, that I may want what is worth wanting and recognize it when it is given.

 Feed me with yourself. May I want only to remain with you in silence and peace.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Lord, I give you my will freely, for I know by experience that the only thing to do is to surrender myself wholly to you. Do whatever you want with me.

Give us this day our daily bread

Lord, help me to realize how much I need you every day. The Bread of Life is yourself, the greatest gift the Father could have given. Only by you can I be nourished.

I can cease being anxious about material necessities, for in you I have the one thing necessary – yourself.

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

 Lord, you ask us to forgive others as we ourselves are forgiven by you. I have so much to be forgiven. So little to forgive by comparison.

Prayer which does not result in forgiveness of others is not true prayer at all. You have forgiven me so much how can I possibly dare to withhold forgiveness from anyone?

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

Lord, help me to be always ready for the hour of conflict, knowing that your strength within me will overcome all evil. Of myself I am weak but in you I can do all things.

You are the Merciful One. I do not trust in my own strength but in your mercy. Help me at every moment. Never let me give up prayer which keeps me in touch with you. Help me to desire only what is good, true and beautiful.

This prayer of the Our Father is enough for me, Lord. It teaches me all I need to know, for the words come from your own lips.

Blessed and praised may you be, for from you comes all the good that we speak, think or do. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ,

Son of God,

Have mercy on me

A sinner!

[Jesus prayer is used as a breath prayer]

Always pray to have

Eyes that see the best,

A heart that forgives the worst,

A mind that forgets the bad,

And a soul that never loses faith.

 (In peace let us pray to the Lord for our children, saying, “Lord, hear and have mercy.”)

We pray for all who confess the name of Jesus Christ: fill us with the power of your Holy Spirit.

Lord, hear and have mercy.

We pray for our children and grandchildren that they enjoy their childhood. Children are in danger of losing their childhood. Protect the purity and innocence of our children. Help them enjoy their youth.

Lord, hear and have mercy.

Our children are bombarded by images, sights and sounds every day that are frightening. Some are losing their confidence. Your Word says: ‘God has not given us the spirit of fear but of love and power and a sound mind.’ Help us listen to our children better and calm their fears through your mighty promises.

Lord, hear and have mercy.

Our children’s spiritual lives matter. Your Word says:

‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the holy one is understanding.’ Lord, help us teach children spiritual truths and values at home and at church so that they grow safe, healthy and become responsible adults. Let our children learn to revere your Name early on.

Lord, hear and have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you taught us to love God and our neighbour. Help us to show it through word and action.  Lord, help our children to follow the Way of Jesus in loving you and accepting all people and to see Jesus in others.

Lord, hear and have mercy.

Jesus said, “let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Help us guide children through your Word both at home and church.  Please help our children make Christ-honoring choices as they are faced with making difficult choices.

Lord, hear and have mercy.

Lord, you have asked us to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’ of the world. Enable us to model love, responsibility, and kindness to our children.

Lord, hear and have mercy.

Amen.