This is the prayer that was led by Jan D at our TILT gathering.
Heavenly Father, we come into your throne room this evening.
We know that the door is always open and that we can enter boldly because we are your beloved children!
As we look to your right hand , we see Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
We are reminded that His righteousness clothes us ... we have become children of God through His finished work!
We praise you that you have such love for us that you gave your precious Son so that we can have a relationship with you both for now and for all eternity!
As we stand in your presence we are reminded that our home is not in this world but while we are on this earth you have Kingdom work for us to do.
One day we will take up residence in our Heavenly home, the one that Jesus has prepared for us ... but for now, you ask us to be faithful to the calling you have on each of our lives!
Father, as we gaze into your eyes we feel your love ... deep into the very depths of our being!
We want to tell you this evening that we love you, too!
Coming into your presence like this makes us so aware of those areas in our hearts that are not pleasing to you or right with you!
As they are exposed we need to bring them before you for your perspective and cleansing.
Lord, we so want to be clean vessels for you to work through.
You know the desires of our heart you know what stands between us and You ...
Let’s take a few minutes to quietly allow the Spirit of God to search our hearts and reveal the sin that needs to be confessed.
Lord, we want to be fully open to you.
Is there anything else that we need to confess together as your Body ... as your people ... before we go on?
We thank you that you offer forgiveness of sin on an ongoing basis.
We are so grateful that your mercies are new every day!
You say in your Word that as your children we need to have hearts of thankfulness in order to be like Jesus.
We pause right now to tell you again how much we love you and either out loud or silently we want to specifically thank you for ...
Let’s us raise our voices in thankfulness to the Lord.
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Thanks be to God for His enduring goodness, His marvellous grace and abundant provision!
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Now let’s turn our hearts to some of the practical concerns of Spring Garden Church ... I will suggest a topic and then you can either pray out loud or silently as the Spirit directs
- Church pastors: Gene, Bill, Greg, Margaret, Jay, Children’s Pastor
- Deacons and elders
- TILT leadership team
- The new building project
- Students ... at York, at Tyndale, those looking for summer jobs, those finishing High School and trying to figure out next year, the youth at Spring Garden and youth group
- Those whose jobs are tenuous, those who have been laid off, those without employment prospects ... for our response to this as a church? Let’s pray for the new opportunities that are there for us to share Christ in the midst of such hardship?
- Our missionaries both near and abroad, those who are on furlow and those about to be, for Youth Unlimited, AIA, and any other ministries represented by our church membership
- Linton family and the upcoming Gala, other families in our congregation who struggle daily with disability and disease, those who are battling cancer, mental health issues and other debilitating illnesses
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Lord, we now want to pray for our city.
What would you have us pray for our city this evening?
Again,
either pray silently or out loud as the Spirit leads.
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And finally Lord, we are so aware of the turmoil in our country, in the U.S. and around the world.
We pray for you to be present in the upcoming meeting between Obama and Harper.
We know from your Word that those who call upon You ... You will answer!
May Mr. Obama and Mr. Harper call on the name of the Lord!
Father, we ask ... how would you have us be praying for our country and our world this evening?
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As we go out may we be people who hunger to commune with you this week and may we continually be aware of your loving presence.
May we be faithful in prayer ... as your Spirit directs and leads us.
We thank you for hearing the cry of our hearts and our prayers this evening.
Amen.
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