What's the Difference?
Over the next couple of months we're going to be experimenting with some changes to the prayer guide. For this sermon series "What's the Difference?" we're going to try connecting the prayer guide to the Sunday messages. If you didn't get a chance to participate in the service, you can view all of our messages on our website.
Opening Prayer
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
19 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”
- Joshua 4:19-24
Faithfulness
It's not always easy to see God's faithfulness in a given situation.
Sometimes our own emotions cloud our vision. Whether it's anger, hurt, pain, depression, frustration, or grief, these strong emotions can make it difficult to have an accurate picture of reality. God might be comforting or providing for us, but the sheer intensity of emotion can feel so overwhelming that we have a hard time noticing it.
Sometimes we don't recognize God's faithfulness because He's working behind the scenes, outside of our vision. Years later you might find out about details that help you see that God was actually with you every step of the way.
Hindsight usually gives us more information and a more balanced perspective which helps us notice just how present God actually was in a difficult situation. We might notice that God was comforting us, providing for us, supernaturally working out details, refining us and forming us into the people He's created us to be. Reflecting on and naming where God has been faithful to you in the past will help you be faithful in the present.
Reflection
Create some space to reflect on your life in God's presence.
Think back on a difficult season when it may have felt like God was distant.
Now that you have some space from that situation, identify where and how God was at work, even when you couldn’t see it.
Then spend time thanking Him for his faithfulness.
Prayers of Petition
God invites us to cast our cares on him because he cares for us. God is all-together good, already knows what we need, and is eager to give us good things. So we don’t need to pray out of anxiety or fear, but confident trust. Spend a few minutes making your requests known to God.
- For the church
- For others
- For myself
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.