Category Archives: prayer

A Prayer Prompted by Christ’s Teaching in Matthew 18

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Heavenly Father,

Teach us to exercise the faith of a child toward you. Help us to be innocent, trusting and not afraid to ask you for what we need.

Help us to take sin very seriously, so that we will carefully avoid temptation. Further please prevent us from tempting others through our words and actions.  On the contrary, let us join with you in going out to seek the one lost sheep of your flock who is going astray.

When we feel that someone has sinned against us, or has need of some form of correction, give us the power to not respond out of anger or frustration.  Help us rather to correct that person with the goal of restoration in mind. And remind us to follow your instructions as to the best way to make that restoration a reality.  And then, most of all, help us to be forgiving people, always aware of how much we have been forgiven by you.

You truly have released us from a debt we could never pay, by having Jesus Christ pay for our sins on the cross.  May our lives reflect your grace, your goodness and your compassion.

In Christ,

Amen

A Prayer Prompted by Concern for God’s Kingdom as Seen in Matthew 17

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Heavenly Father,

We declare Jesus to be King of kings, Lord of lords and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth. We also declare him to be King, Lord and Ruler over our lives.  

May your Kingdom come and your will be done.  We ask your help in discerning your will so that we will more faithfully represent Christ as we go about our earthly business.  Help us to know how to exercise Christ’s authority in the spiritual realm, in our families, in our church and in our daily community life.  Help us to see when we are not doing so, especially when that is the result of a lack of faith. We admit that our faith needs to grow.

Help us also to see all those numerous cases when submission to earthly rulers is the right thing to do.  We thank you that we live in a place where we are free to worship you.  We pray that you would give those that govern wisdom to govern according to your will.  We also pray that you would have mercy on them and lead each of them into a saving knowledge of you.

And finally, we look forward to the soon return of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

A Prayer to Avoid Bad Teaching Prompted by Matthew 16:6-12

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Heavenly Father,

Our Savior told his disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,” by which he meant their bad teaching.  As Christ’s disciples in this present day, we are no less prone to error than those early disciples were.  Help us to avoid it.

Help us to rightly divide the Word of Truth.  Help all the teaching we give and that which we willingly receive to be free from legalism, loose practice, error in doctrine and wrong motivation.  Let us speak and believe what is true, rather than that which is convenient.  And let us simultaneously avoid excessive harshness by adding to your commands.

Let our beliefs be correct and our lives be honorable, full of grace and true to your word.

And we ask this in the name of Jesus,

Amen.

 

A Prayer Prompted by the Stories in Matthew 15

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Heavenly Father,

Some of the most religious people of Jesus’s day misunderstood both his heart and yours. Please help me to avoid making the same mistake.

Help to put aside any religious traditions or views that stand in the way of your word. And help me to avoid any concept of faith that goes soft on my own sin. I want to live a truly holy life that consistently brings glory to you.

I also ask that you would help my faith to be strong.

When I feel like I am not the kind of person that should be praying help me to remember that you want everyone to pray.  When I feel like you are ignoring my prayers, help me to be persistent. And when I feel like you will never answer my prayers, help me to be persistent again.

I understand that sometimes having great faith means being persistent in prayer.

And finally I thank you for your unending goodness and mercy toward me.

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.