Pray for Our American Heroes and Nation

Holy and Righteous God,

You are faithful even when we are unfaithful. How easy it is to slip away from You when we fail to honor Your Word and Your truths. How safe and comfortable it is to simply go along with the opinions of the world so that we do not have to appear contrary or different. Lord, forgive us of our weakness. Only with You and through You can we have the strength to stand for what is good and true. We ask You to help us always to preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; for only then can we be useful and faithful to You and Your Kingdom.

Father, we commit our military men and women and seek Your gracious care for them. Surely You are the God who strengthens them, Who helps them, Who upholds them with Your righteous right hand. We do not cease to give thanks for them, making mention of them in our prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

For Your people, Israel, we ask for Your face to shine upon them, for Your grace to surround them, and for Your peace to comfort them.

Lord, we need people of God who are willing to stand for all of Your truths---not just those that are popular or convenient. Father, give us the courage and boldness we need to make a difference in this dark world. We may be the only representatives of Your love that some people will ever see. Help us, Lord, to be the salt and light that You have called us to be. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Please join us in prayer.

Amen

I pray for their protection despite their being “led” by the enemy islamist obama.

Amen to your beautiful prayer.

Amen to your prayer.

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The Factory of Sadness

February 7, 2016

[God] will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Revelation 21:4

As a lifelong Cleveland Browns football fan, I grew up knowing my share of disappointment. Despite being one of only four teams to have never appeared in a Super Bowl championship game, the Browns have a loyal fan base that sticks with the team year in and year out. But because the fans usually end up disappointed, many of them now refer to the home stadium as the "Factory of Sadness."

The broken world we live in can be a "factory of sadness" too. There seems to be an endless supply of heartache and disappointment, whether from our own choices or things beyond our control.

Yet the follower of Christ has hope--not only in the life to come but for this very day. Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Notice that without minimizing the struggles or sadness we may experience, Christ counters them with His promises of peace, joy, and ultimate victory.

Great peace is available in Christ, and it's more than enough to help us navigate whatever life throws at us.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Horatio G. Spafford

Our hope and peace are found in Jesus.

Insight:

In today's passage, Jesus's words span a wide timeframe--past, present, and future. To reassure His disciples of His source of authority and the truth of His mission, Jesus says in verse 28 that He "came from the Father" (past tense) and is now "going back to the Father" (present tense). Then in verse 33, Jesus cautions them that they "will have trouble" (future tense). But then He refers to the future with such certainty that He uses the past tense--"I have overcome the world." Despite having yet to be arrested, tried, crucified, resurrected, and ascended back to the Father, Jesus gives His disciples a concrete source of hope--He has overcome the world.

Amen, Faith

Joining in prayer for our nation, our leaders, our heroes, our people.

Amen.

Amen, in prayer for our American Heroes and our Nation