Psalms 103:1-5

A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

“I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.”

—Jeremiah 33:3

There are different translations of these words. One version renders it, “I will shew thee great and fortified things.” Another, “Great and reserved things.” Now, there are reserved and special things in Christian experience.  All the developments of spiritual life are not alike easy of attainment. There are the common frames and feelings of repentance, and faith, and joy, and hope, which are enjoyed by the entire family; but there is an upper realm of rapture, of communion, and conscious union with Christ, which is far from being the common dwelling-place of believers.

We have not all the high privilege of John, to lean upon Jesus’ bosom; nor of Paul, to be caught up into the third heaven. There are heights in experimental knowledge of the things of God which the eagle’s eye of acumen and philosophic thought hath never seen.  God alone can bear us there; but the chariot in which He takes us up, and the fiery steeds with which that chariot is dragged, are prevailing prayers. Prevailing prayer is victorious over the God of mercy, “By his strength he had power with God: yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with us.”

Prevailing prayer takes the Christian to Carmel, and enables him to cover heaven with clouds of blessing, and earth with floods of mercy. Prevailing prayer bears the Christian aloft to Pisgah, and shows him the inheritance reserved.  It elevates us to Tabor and transfigures us, till in the likeness of his Lord, as He is, so are we also in this world. If you would reach to something higher than ordinary groveling experience, look to the Rock that is higher than you, and gaze with the eye of faith through the window of importunate prayer. When you open the window on your side, it will not be bolted on the other.

--C.H. Spurgeon

COVID-19 Crisis Prayer - Pastor Mike

Today's Prayer

Psalm 67

Today’s Subject: Families

God’s Way: Pray for families to function according to the word of God in the midst of this crisis and trying times. Pray for extra measures of grace and peace from the Holy Spirit and a determination to walk in submission to the Spirit of God.  Pray for marriages to be strong and centered on Christ.  Pray that children will be obedient to parents.  Pray this time of quarantine will be a time of great spiritual growth between family members outside of a normally busy and disconnected life.  Pray for a renewed focus on the Word of God as a central part of family life.  Pray for the financial hardship many will now face.  That they would be wise in the use and distribution of funds and support.  That those financial decisions would reflect a heart for the Lord, demonstrating where their treasure is, their heart will be also.

God’s Salvation:  Pray that salvation would come and be received to families and family members who have not trusted Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, especially during this week prior and including our Resurrection Sunday.  Pray for families to join the Good Friday service and partake of communion together, celebrating the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  Pray that men, women, and children would hear the Gospel message this week and give their lives to Christ for the first time.  Pray those decisions to follow Jesus would be sustained and guarded against the enemy who love to steal away their new-found faith.  Pray for those who trust Jesus to eagerly seek and hear and know the truth of God’s Word for themselves and through Biblical livestream services.  Pray for a miraculous harvest of souls for Jesus in spite of this pandemic and in spite of what the enemy would use to silence the Gospel.

God’s Praise: Praise God for the victory we have in Christ Jesus.  Praise Him for the forgiveness of sins and promise of everlasting life granted to us through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Praise God the complete submission Jesus demonstrated to the will of the Father in laying His life down as a ransom for many.  Praise God for the perfect, all fulfilling and satisfying sacrifice Jesus has made for us and for all sin.  Thank the Lord that we are no longer dead in our trespasses but have been born again to the newness of life by the Spirit in Christ Jesus, our Lord.  Praise God for His infinite wisdom in creating family units in our that the Gospel may by propagated to every person in the world.  Thank the Lord for our family.

“God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your Way may be known on earth, Your Salvation among the nations.  Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You” Psalm 67: 1-3