"For God Alone My Soul Waits" - 24 April 2016 Morning and Evening

Sunday morning:

From Psalm 62

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. We lift up our hearts thankful that the new and living way into your presence has been opened up through your Son, Jesus; and that we have the privilege to draw near with all holy reverence and confidence. Glory to you, Lord God!

How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah. Father, behold how your people are being bludgeoned, badgered and beleaguered in so many places! Grant us all to be faithful witnesses, and restore safety and sanity in those places where it is hot and hostile. Turn the hearts of the god-haters and shut down their ability to do harm. Liquidate and bankrupt those institutions, sanctuaries, movements and mobs that, in the name of God or in the name of Jesus, stand opposed to you and your good ways and want to inflict and enforce outrageous and atrocious lifestyles on civilization and your sacred society. Bring salvation where there is presently only scorning. Glory to you, Lord God!

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. We implore your mercy, care, guidance, strength and help for your church in all places, including this congregation along with Hillcrest Pentecostal Church; Southwest Pentecostal Church; Christ Temple Community Church; Northwest Christian Center; Paradise Temple; and Calvin Presbyterian Church. Be our salvation, fortress, rock, refuge and glory. Guide your church to be reformed and always reforming into the sacred society you desire. Glory to you, Lord God!

Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them. Mighty Lord, God Most High, govern the nations of the world, as well as our own country; that neighborliness, respectfulness, wholesome morality, fairness, justice and equity would succeed. We long for the day when swords will beaten into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks, and lions lie down with lambs; give peace, O Lord, in our time. Glory to you, Lord God!

Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work. Compassionate Father, to whom belongs steadfast love, be with those we pray for now who need our prayers, especially….since your never failing providence orders all things in both heaven and earth, remove what is hurtful, and replenish with what is helpful in Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord. Glory to you, Lord God!

--------

Sunday evening:

You are the God who will tend your flock like a shepherd; you will gather the lambs in your arms; you will carry them in your bosom, and gently lead those that are with young (Isaiah 40.11); so we gather in your presence glad for your goodness, and imploring your watchful care.

Mighty God our Father, as your eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show yourself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal toward you (2 Chronicles 16.9); set your gaze on your Church worldwide, specifically in Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; Chile; China; Colombia; and Comoros. Show yourself strong on her behalf. And as King Asa prayed, when his smaller army was outnumbered 2-to-1, “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude – the world, the flesh and the devil. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you” (2 Chronicles 14.11). O Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, you promised that when you were lifted up from the earth, you would draw all people to yourself (John 12.32). Draw the wayward and willful; the wrecked and ruined; the prosperous and those in penury; Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Yazidis, Zoroastrians, Secularists, Agnostics, Atheists, the “Don’t Cares” and “Could Care Lesses,”and draw to yourself these we mention in silence…. O Lord, hear our prayer.

O Lord, who cares for the fatherless, the widowed, the immigrants – both legal and illegal – and the migrants; we pray for Anna’s House Foundation, Project 66, KAIROS, City Rescue Mission, Hope Center of Edmond, and Hope Pregnancy Center of OKC. Give them all the aid they need, so they may effectively and plentifully aid those they seek to serve in Christ’s name. O Lord, hear our prayer.

Holy God, we have many of our teens getting ready to graduate and head out into various vocations: some into the military, others into missions, and several into college. As they move on into new venues and experiences, help them to make sound, solid, suitable and sanctified decisions. There will be new friends who will seek to beckon them to take different tracks than they were raised with. There will be many wanting to get them to slip their standards, sacrifice their faith, sell out their chastity, and cease their sobriety. But Lord, we are confident in you that you will watch over them, and so we commend them to you, body, soul, mind and strength. Ever keep in the forefront of their minds who they are, whose they are and why they are. And fill their parents with your peace that passes all understanding, to guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. O Lord, hear our prayer.