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Thursday Prayer Guide

April 19, 2022

Hindsight

Over the next couple of months we're going to be experimenting with some changes to the prayer guide. For this sermon series "Hindsight: How Easter brings clarity" 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 - Matthew 18:21-22

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Jesus' Forgiveness

Jesus' radical forgiveness is not just a Godly quality we are supposed to appreciate and be thankful for.

It is something we are supposed to imitate.

We are supposed to extend forgiveness at the same mind-blowing level that it has been given to us.

While forgiveness is a difficult decision, it often requires a lot of hard work, honesty, and vulnerability. Forgiving someone of something big is not something you should rush through saying "oh it's no big deal, I forgive you." Mac outlined a process for forgiving people in this week's message you should take a look at if you missed it.

Reflection

Create some space to reflect on your life in God's presence. Sit with God and these questions to help fix your eyes on Jesus and his posture of forgiveness towards you and other people.

  • Identify someone who has hurt or wronged you
  • Write out any ways you’ve been stuck in the cycle of enemy-making
  • Spend some time reflecting on how Jesus has forgiven you
  • Name the truth by writing out what happened
  • Lament your pain in prayer and give it to Jesus for healing
  • Pray a prayer of forgiveness and blessing over the other person
  • Initiate or pray for reconciliation while releasing the outcome to God

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

Lord make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine master grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand.
To be loved, as to love.
For it's in giving that we receive
And it's in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen