2/19/24 Prayer

Our Beautiful God, thank You for loving us unconditionally!  No where and with no one person is that truly experienced.  We walk in freedom when we walk with You!  May we be continually aware of Your Presence.  You are always with us!  May we longingly seek to be with You.

Let us not only soak that up, but may our hearts and minds know and believe of Your good desire and design for us.  May You open our eyes to see Your hand working in our lives.  May You open our ears to hear the whispers You speak into us.  May You soften our hearts to trust You and not necessarily need to understand all that is happening to us.

We cannot do any of this on our own.  It is only through the Power and work of The Holy Spirit.  You are in us and Your Power is in us.  And the beautiful thing is that we can access it by simply asking.  In fact, You want us to ask!  You love when we go to You in faith, even if we have doubts.  

Please Lord, build and strengthen our trust and faith in You.  Help us, through the Power of The Holy Spirit, love You more, go to You more, trust You more, include You more in our lives, and be with You more!  We need Your help, we cannot do this on our own!  We want to live lives glorifying to You!!

And thank You God that You desire good things for us!!  You tell us in Luke 11:11-13
"You fathers-if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."

And You also tell us in Romans 8:28
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Please help us remember and believe Your Word and scripture with all our hearts and all our minds!  

For Your Glory, and in the Precious Name of Jesus we pray.

Patty Covington

2/12/24 Prayer

Dear my Good and Gracious God, Provider, Creator, and Abba Father,

Thank you, Lord, for today and this week. I strive to give myself fully to you this week.  As this week is a week of love, affection, hearts, and a chance to show those we care, I thank you for caring for and loving me.  

This week I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

“Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Today, I seek your assistance in helping me put myself in place of love. I seek to live out these characteristics not just today and this week, but every day.  

I am patient, I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast. I am not proud. I do not dishonor others, I am not self-seeking. I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. I always protect, always trust, always hope, and always persevere in you Father.

These are not easy in this crazy world, but with your help, I know I can do better.  Allow me to make you the priority of every day, to see you in the good, the bad, and the ugly.  

Thank you for my church family, thank you for the freedom I have to worship freely, and thank you for my blessing.

Amen. 

Jason Mabe

2/5/25 Prayer

My heavenly Father,

It is evening-my dark time and the loneliness creeps in and sometimes darkness. It feels as though I am the only person on the earth that feels this way. No human to talk to and the “ping” of the phone does not erase the pit that I find myself in.

The things that are shining through now are the sins that are evident from the day. Why didn’t I reach out to that person that you put on my heart? Why won’t I forgive that friend that said those mean and hurtful things? Why were those words so easy to say today in traffic? Why did I watch that tv show just because I could not find anything else better to watch? Why didn’t I do what was right in that situation? Please Jesus, forgive me!

Then…a moment of silence….and finally I realize that I am NOT alone.

You, my Abba, are here with me. I just have to let your light shine through the darkness. I allow your arms to envelop me with your protection and rest.

My merciful Savior, I give you all the sins of today, knowing full well, that I will add to the list tomorrow –even sometimes repeating those of today.

You listen, nod your head in agreement and say “sleep well my child. I love you and forgive you once again.”

Thank you gracious Lord, I love you.

Amen.

Patti Davis

1/31/24 Prayer

Almighty and gracious God, you are the Good Shepherd, Righteous Judge, Loving Father, Creator and Sustainer. You are our Personal Savior and Mighty Deliverer. Thank you for leading us through this journey of conversations with you over the past month! 

Forgive us for the times when we got caught up in the things calling for our attention and didn't pursue focused time with you. We confess that at times we thought there would be more time in the day, so we put you off in order to get a few things done first. We admit that we thought accomplishing those things was more important than talking with you. Please forgive us and fill our hearts with a deep longing to connect with you.

We have learned so much about prayer and about you. However, the best part has been actually meeting with you and talking with you. Thank you for moving from a concept in our minds to the reality we know in our heart and soul. Because of these regular encounters, we have grown and matured. Your Holy Spirit has awakened us to be more aware of you, those around us and what you are doing in us. Continue that work, so we might be all you intended us to be as individuals and as a church.  

Stir in us a dissatisfaction with convenient, comfortable or status quo Christianity. Cause our hearts to burn for you and awaken a fresh love for those around us. Thank you for all you have given us and all you are helping us become. Help us to have the courage to leverage everything you have entrusted to our care on behalf of others for the sake of your kingdom. Don't let us settle for anything less than all you have for us.

We long to represent you in this broken world. Refresh, revive and renew us so that we might be overflowing with your grace, love, kindness, mercy and forgiveness. We are humbled by the way you live in us and delight in us. Use us all for your glory and honor. 

We pray all this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

Amen. 

Pastor Mike

1/30/24 Prayer

A Prayer for Pain

Physical.

God, heal my body. Take the pain that I feel, that is telling me something is wrong, and correct what needs correcting. I am made so intricately. You know every part of me. Renew me and wash me with your Holy Spirit. Breathe newness in my body.

Mental.

God, heal my mind. Bathe past trauma, anxiety, and hurt with your Holy Spirit. Let me see your goodness and grace in every aspect of my life. Even in the darkest parts, let me see your light. Lead me to people who will my hold arms up when I am low and heavy. Help me trust others with my vulnerability. Breathe newness over my mind.

World.

God, heal our world. It is broken due to our desires, greed, ambitions, and sin. Where violence dominates, give me wisdom to be a lamb. Where scarcity is felt, give me hands that are open to share. When I feel like I want to turn away, and ignore the pain of others, give me a new heart that longs to see New Creation and then acts. Breathe newness into our world.

I hold these things in hope.

If today is a rough day and I ache physically in my body: you are still good and trustworthy.

If today is a dark day, and I struggle with heaviness in my mind: you are still good and trustworthy.

If today the world still turns violently and out of rhythm with your design: you are still good and trustworthy.

Through it all your son, Jesus, is with me.

Amen.

Victor Neal

1/29/24 Prayer

Lord, give me wisdom to choose to focus on during the next year.  With your help, I know I can make the changes You’re calling me to make.  Help me to have eyes to see others the way You see them, to love and forgive others they way You’ve forgiven me, and to use my influence all for Your glory.  This year, I pray You would help my family to be closer, my leadership to be sharper, my faith to be deeper, and my heart to be larger. Thank you for the gift of salvation through Jesus.  This year, I choose to put my hope and trust in You.  In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Pastor Craig Groeschel, Life Church

1/28/24 Prayer

Dear Gracious and Heavenly Father, 
Today we pause for a moment. We take a big deep breath. We breathe in. 1-2-3. We breathe out. 1-2-3. We take a moment to remind ourselves that we belong to you. We remember that following you does not mean a life without pain, but it lets you into the pain with us. We know that in all the hard that comes with living, we are not alone. So today we choose to let you in. We let you into our hurt. We let you in to do the work that only our Creator can do. We make a conscious choice to stop doing it on our own. We recognize a life without letting you in is impossible. We choose you Jesus. Thank you for coming into our story to do life with us. You did not promise a life without suffering. You promised a life of getting us through the suffering, Thank you. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

Jailyn Mabe

1/27/24 Prayer

God of heaven and earth, our Creator and Sustainer, we come with worship and praise for you in our hearts. We declare your goodness and your faithfulness. We recognize that without you we are nothing.

Forgive us where we have failed you and where we have not loved our neighbor. Forgive us when we are not faithful to you and when we rely on our own strengths or put our hope in things of this world. We seek your forgiveness for the things we have done that are wrong as well as for the things we did not do that are right.  Thank you, God, for your grace and mercy. Help us to offer that same grace and mercy for others who have wronged us.

Thank you for loving me. Thank you for the blessings you have given to us and for the blessings you have planned for us.  You are a good and wonderful God. You deserve all praise.

We know you are always with us, and we are grateful. May we feel your presence in our life. When the days are stressful and we are anxious; when the days ahead seem difficult and overwhelming; remind us that you are there beside us and we have your strength to carry our burdens.  When the days are full of happiness and when we feel satisfied and content, may we remember that all good things come from you and may we praise you and give you the glory.

Lead us down the paths that bring us closer to you. May we choose your way and not our own. 

Watch over us and protect us from danger.

We pray in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

Mike Clements

1/26/24 Prayer

Lord Jesus, I thank you especially for all the wonderful, beautiful, loving Christian people you have placed in my life. The ones who have held me when I’ve been broken and not judged me when I‘ve gone astray but lovingly brought me back to the fold. The ones who have taught me and shown me what it means to be a Christian. 

Lord, I pray that you will make me more like you every day that I live and that I will accomplish all that you created me to do before I’m called home to be with you. Thank you for forgiving me for all my shortcomings and help me to be a testimony of your goodness and grace to everyone I meet. Please forgive me when I fall short of this. 

I pray for all the people in this world who don’t know you, Jesus, especially the ones in my own family. I pray that they and all the loved ones of my fellow Christians will come to know you, Lord. I know I’m not responsible for their decision but I feel like I should have done more in the past and be doing more in the present to reach them. Please guide me in this. 

There are many things on my heart today but these are at the top of my list. Thank you so much for listening to me, for loving me, and for choosing me as one of your own. I will be eternally grateful my precious Lord and savior!

In Jesus name, I pray,

Ginger Bailey

1/25/24 Prayer

Lord, change is hard. It scares us and we do not like it. Please forgive us for our limited views and our fear of what we cannot control. We come to you trembling, yet we are here. We beg you to meet us in the midst of our trembling and give us a new view, a holy view of change. Please use that which scares us to transform our hearts as well as the hearts of others. Redeem the messiness and fears and proclaim your love, grace, and mercy through us. Birth a healthy, holy, God-centered attitude about change in each of us and use this new holy attitude to propel and carry us forward as we run the race you’ve set before us.

Amen.

Andrea Perdue

1/24/24 Prayer

Assurance (A Prayer)

Jesus help me to love others today
because I have the assurance that you love me
Help me meet the needs of others today
because I have the assurance that You will meet all of my needs
Help me to be generous today 
because I have the assurance that you will provide everything I need to be generous
Help me protect others today
because I have the assurance of your protection
Help me work on my imperfections today
because I have the assurance of your perfection
Help me to resist sin today
because I have the assurance that you completely resisted sin
Help me to forgive today 
because I have the assurance that you have forgiven me
Help me love others today
because I have the assurance that you love me.
Amen. 

Kurt Cooper

1/23/24 Prayer

1/23/24

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40: 31

Heavenly protector,

At the start of a new year, all things seem possible as we are renewed from the celebration of your birth. Allow us to soar as we navigate all that 2024 is destined to bring, both joyful and daunting, knowing that you are our strength. With you, we will never want nor tire in the journey.  Your love will sustain us, when we celebrate it and even when we doubt it.

We pray to you, our father above.

Amen.

Julia Saddington

1/22/24 Prayer

Lord, lead me in my life. I think I know what’s best, but the true reality is that You have the best vantage point. I only see this point in time and a sliver of my life. You see my whole life and how it fits in with the ones I love and with whom I interact. You want good for me, and for my life to be glorifying to You. I want that too, though sometimes I just want good for me. You know that and You love me despite my selfish desire. Holy Spirit please work in me, and bring my desires to be in line with Yours. Help me because I can’t do this on my own. And thank you for being with me and loving me just as I am!

Amen.

Patty Covington

1/21/24 Prayer

Loving Father, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, I adore you and worship you. How I long to be in your presence. I confess I have not always followed your will for me. But I am thankful that you have seen fit to forgive me through Jesus. Thank you for all the goodness you have brought me and continue to pour out on me. I won’t deny there have been trials in the past year where I’ve had to throw myself on you to get me through them. I am so grateful for your faithfulness. And there have been times when through my own carelessness and forgetfulness, I have messed up. You have always been there to bail me out. I pray that your church all over the world will hold fast to its faithfulness to you this new year even if there are times that seem troubling and confusing. I pray for those in my circle of relationships. For those whose names are written in your book of life, increase their ability to see things through your eyes, clamping down on any biases or prejudging of people or their circumstances. Help them to meet the needs they encounter with a God kind of love and acceptance. For those who do not yet know you, I pray for their spiritual eyes to be opened. Help them to realize that science and technology are not anti-faith but are tools and gifts from you. Help them to recognize who you are and in seeing, believe on your name and be saved for eternity with you. Lord, be my strength as I go into this new year. Show me where I can serve you best. You know my limitations, yet I always want to please you.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Faye Hoover

1/20/24 Prayer

Precious Father….

How quickly the years have flown by…one year morphing into another, seemingly in the blink of an eye, yet I know that YOU have been leading me step-by-step through each and every day. We’ve walked hand-in-hand along this sometimes-tedious life-path, together. Surely, You demonstrate Your complete and holy love for me… for All of us … every single day. Open our eyes, Lord, so we may clearly see and experience the Wonders and Joy of this amazing world and life that You have created… just for us! For your goodness and mercy, Father, I give you my thanks … what a completely inadequate word that is… Better, I give you my life, my heart and soul! Open my heart to receive Your blessings! Blanket us all with your unconditional love and grace… forever and always! I don’t want to live a day without You! Father, please continue to guide and direct me along this life-path. Please pick me up when I stumble and fall… and when I cause your eyes to water in disappointment because of wrongful thoughts, words, or actions, I ask for your forgiveness, guidance and deliverance from those earthly temptations. I give you All glory and praise for your Redemptive Salvation, Lord! No matter what happens now and forward, it gives me great comfort to know You are here with me always… leading, watching, nudging, and encouraging me. You are my Heart and I love You! Truly, I anticipate the years ahead… continually holding your hand, Father. Come what may in 2024 and beyond…… You are and always will be My God and I am and forever will be your child! In Jesus’ name I pray………Amen.

Joan Bowers

1/19/24 Prayer

Loving Creator,

As I enter a new year, I offer my gratitude for the journey behind and the possibilities ahead. Grant me the clarity to see the beauty in each moment and the strength to face the challenges with resilience. Guide me in the pursuit of purpose and passion. May this year be a canvas where I paint my aspirations, dreams, and contributions to the world. Help me navigate the uncertainties with courage and trust, knowing that you hold the map to my destiny. During transitions and new beginnings, let your light illuminate my path. Bless my endeavors with creativity, perseverance, and an unwavering faith that, in your hands, my potential is limitless. Surround me with relationships that inspire, uplift, and encourage growth. May I be a source of kindness, empathy, and understanding in the lives of those around me, creating connections that foster love and unity. In moments of solitude, grant me the wisdom to listen to the whispers of my heart and the guidance of your Spirit. May I carry the hope that springs eternal, trusting in your promise of a future filled with purpose and grace. With hopeful anticipation, I surrender the coming days into your hands, O God, confident that with you, each step forward is a step toward a brighter, fulfilling future. 

Amen.

Brian Spittle

1/18/24 Prayer

Holy God, Father, Creator, The Great I Am,

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for who you are and for what you mean to me. Thank you for guiding me, protecting me, pursuing me, holding me in hard times, for always being just what I need.  I am sorry that I don’t always seek you first Father, in the good times or hard times. I am sorry that I don’t talk to you every day, I am sorry that I don’t always make our relationship the priority it needs to be. I am sorry that I get caught up more in the ways of this world than I do in seeking after you. Father, you are so good and I ask you to help me fully trust in you, to trust that you may have my best in mind, even if I can’t see the next step. Father, I ask for your blessing upon my church family. I ask for us to seek you more Father in everything we do. I pray for our generosity, stewardship, and discipleship. Father, I pray that you bring new people into our church family, I pray that you protect those already here Father, and most of all I pray for your will to be done for our church. Father, 2024 may be a difficult year in the United Methodist Church, but for any conversations that are to be had, Father, I ask that you be right in the middle of all of them and let us only seek after your will. Father, I pray for our physical and mental health, knowing that there will be pain, illness, strife, and hard days, Father, but I ask for your healing powers and again for your will to be done. Father, let me remember how good you have been to me, so when the hard days come, fear will not rule me Father, but my faith in you will. I love you Lord, and I thank you for loving me. 

Amen.

Jason Mabe

1/17/24 Prayer

God of creation, we come to you this day, in awe of your amazing masterpiece! You created the heavens and earth with just a brushstroke. The vibrant colors twinkle across the sky and smile in the form of a rainbow. The sun and moon await your nod to carry out your grace and glory. The hummingbirds sing of your melody and delight in the dew of the morning that you provided. The rushing river dances out to sea as if being chased by a child who is eager to catch it. We joyfully lift our voices of praise to you, and rejoice in the abundance that you have provided!!

Amen.

Lori Epps

1/16/24 Prayer

Whenever I look back on the path my life has taken this is the prayer that most often comes from my heart.  I hope these simple words resonate with you. 

Dear Father God, thank you for this day. Thank you for the people you have placed in my life and those that I will encounter today.  Grant me the strength and wisdom to be of service and to spread peace where there is strife. Amen.

Eileen Cerny

1/15/24 Prayer

Lord God,

Thank you for who you are, Immanuel God with us! Thank you that you are our Wonderful Counselor, our Prince of Peace, the Lover of our souls. Thank you for your Holy Spirit! We need you so - please help!  Lord, there are so many times that we have failed and sinned against you by the things that we did, said, or thought or by the things that we left undone or unsaid. Please forgive us and fill us with your Holy Spirit. Help us live for you, experiencing the goodness that you have for us, fully alive to give, flowing over into the darkness around us. May we hear the cries of the oppressed, not to weigh us down but to move us into action that will reduce the unjust economic, social, and political systems. May we build healthy families and live responsibly. Where there is a need that is pulling on our hearts, give us vision to move.  May we never resist the pull of your love and do whatever you tell us to do, trusting in your sovereignty, your protection, your provision in your loving presence, shining your Love Light bringing Hope to the world around us. We need you, we want you more and more! They need you, please help! In Christ Jesus' all-powerful name, Amen. 

Lindy Bettis