In the midst of this Global Pandemic I commended to you Rachel Jones new book “5 Things to Pray in a Global Crisis.” Rachel is the author of the series of books “5 Things to Pray ….” (Kids, Church, World, People you Love, City). In this most recent book she addresses how we can best pray in the midst of our current crisis. These days of crisis Jones encourages us to pray in 5 categories: 

(Last week) Pray for our Heart

(This week) Pray for our Family

 

1. Pray for my Spouse – 1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”  - 

Father in heaven, please help me and my spouse to … 

a. Be Like-Minded -  To pull together as you seek to honour Jesus. 

b. Be Sympathetic – Patiently listen to each other.

c. Love One Another – Sacrifice for each other. 

d. Grow in Compassion – Not just for each other but for others. 

e. Humbly Repent when we fall short

2. Pray for my Kids –Psalm 78:1-8 – 1. Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! 2. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3. things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. 4. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 5. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6. that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 7. so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; 8. and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Father God, please help our family to …

a. Give Thanks – vv:1, 3

b. Speak your Praise – v:4

c. Form Lasting Memories – vv:5-6

d. Trust in God – v:7

e. Grow in Obedience – vv:7-8

3. Pray for Loved Ones I Cannot Visit – 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 - ⁶ But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— ⁷ for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. ⁹ For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, ¹⁰ as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?  ¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, ¹² and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³ so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Prayer Points 

a. For the Good Memories – v:6

b. For Working in My Loved One’s Life – vv:8-9

c. For a Way to be Reunited – v:11

d. For Increasing Love – v:12

e. For Strong Hearts – v:13

 
“See” You Sunday

Pastor Byron