Seasonal Prayer

Abba, no matter what holiday or festival we celebrate (or don’t celebrate), this seems to be a season when emotions tend to run more deeply…become more intensely felt. For some, there are the highs of anticipation, joy and celebration. But for some, there are the lows of loneliness, keenly felt distance from family (whether physical or emotional). Oftentimes there is this frenetic level of activity that can rob us of our physical and emotional wellness as the stress to keep us gets to us.

Abba, I know that a lot of your leaders not only need to be there for others, but some need others to be there for them. Many of them are committed to working with small congregations and far away from family or close friends. They may not be able to “go home” for a visit, causing them to feel the distance ever more keenly. Or…they may be able to go home and they realize all the more how much they miss their family the rest of the year.

Abba, there are some who, even though in leadership, are in despair. During this time when so many others are celebrating and embracing joy, they are haunted by their failings. They are burdened by hidden sins they dare not confess and ask for help with for fear of losing their income and being rejected by the very people from whom they most need to receive love and support.

Abba, there are those who are in such despair that they no longer even want to live. Perhaps depression has dogged them and they find themselves unable to rise above it. Perhaps they are caught in situations from which they see no way out. Perhaps they have already lost everything they had in this world. Perhaps they are suffering physically and see no end in sight to their pain and debilitations. Perhaps they are in intense emotional pain that just won’t seem to stop…or perhaps they are being challenged mentally and don’t understand what is going on.

Abba, none of these people…none of their situations…are unknown to You. You know and love each one intimately and desire for them to draw close to You…to reach out to You. Help them, Abba, please. You know exactly what each one most needs. Help them to sense You calling to them. Help them to sense Your presence, to hear Your voice. Fill them with Your healing Shalom and the fire of Your Ruach/Spirit. Comfort them. Strengthen them. Protect them from the evil one and from themselves. Bring them wisdom and clarity.

Abba, please bring faithful people alongside of Your leaders…helping them to minister to others and also ministering to them and their families as they need it. May we always…every day of the year…be filled with wonder at the thought of how the Light of the World came to dwell amongst us and His Ruach came to dwell within us…making us His temple. What an amazing thing to consider.

Help those who are lost see who Yeshua really is…especially Your Chosen people! May they embrace the Messiah they have awaited so long. May Your people shine Your light to the lost…working together in Your kingdom…side by side…each with their own gifts and callings. May this time of year be one of our taking every advantage we have to reach the lost.

Abba, I praise You and thank You for those who faithfully serve in Your name. Thank You for those who keep on keeping on in spite of the obstacle and challenges that are placed before them. Thank You for those who have made so many sacrifices to stay in Your service…those who seek to serve You in every area of their lives that they can.

Abba, most of all, I pray that we can each love You with all of our hearts, all of our souls, all of our minds, all of our strengths. May we love our neighbors as ourselves. Help us to understand who our neighbors really are and how to love You and them as You have commanded us to do. May we praise You and honor You above all else. May every area of our lives reflect who You are. b’shem Yeshua

Prayer for November 30

Abba…what a time we live in. There are so many are facing financial struggles and it seems as if darkness is growing. As we look at our economy and what is being done to it…it can be difficult at times to keep our eyes upon You. As we look at so much evil being called “good”…it can be difficult to keep our eyes upon You. As we look at the onslaught against morality, righteousness and liberty…it can be difficult to keep our eyes upon You. Yet, we must.

Help us all, Abba, to always remember that YOU are our source…not a job…not a ministry…not ourselves. You are the One who provides. You are also the One sets the standard of morality and righteousness. You are Sovereign. Though the world may fight against You…You will prevail. The darkness may be growing, but You have a plan. You are allowing it for a reason. You are using it to call Your people who have strayed back to Yourself. You are also the One who gives true liberty. Only in You will we find true freedom.

Nothing happens, Abba, that You do not either allow or cause. You turn ALL things to good for those who love You and are called by Your name. Help us to keep our eyes on You, trusting that You are doing a work in us and in the world around us.

Abba, I especially lift up Your leaders during these times. Not only do they have to face their own struggles, but they are trying to be faithful to encourage and lift up others…to minister the body of Yeshua. They need people to come alongside of them to encourage them, too…and to minister to them.

Abba, please bring those faithful people. Whatever struggles those in leadership have…please bring them the support they need. Give them the gift of being able to be transparent with others. Help them in their struggles and in their faithfulness. Help them, too, Abba, to see when it is time for them to pull back for a bit and simply be ministered to. Touch them deeply with Your healing Shalom. Fill them perpetually with Your Ruach/Spirit.

I ask, too, that Your people will be faithful during these time to recognize that all they have that is good is a gift from You. Remind them to continue to give…not holding back due to these times…but rather…giving even more for the need is great amongst so many. Help us to all be mindful of each other, giving what we can of ourselves and of our resources. Help us to be faithful to share the hope that is within us. Help us to walk in Your Shalom and to be ready with an answer as to why we can do that.

Abba, we cannot stop the things of this world from effecting us, but we can walk in the faith and trust of knowing that Yeshua is walking with us…that He is moving within us and carrying us along. Help us all to be a light…YOUR light…shining in a darkened world. Help us to recognize what is truly important…especially as so many are losing the material things of life. And also as so many are losing precious loved ones.

Thank You, Abba, for family and faithful friends. May the lives of Your people and Your leaders be filled with those blessings, too. Open wide Your gates of provision on all the many needs in Your body. Open our eyes and hearts to see all the various kinds of needs and to fill them as You have filled ours.

b’shem Yeshua.