Our prayer must not be self-centered. It must arise not only because we feel our own need as a burden which must lay upon God, but also because we are bound up in love for our fellow men that we feel their need as acutely as our own. To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them.
John Calvin
Begin with Adoration
This week we are going to reach back to part of a hymn first published in 1695 by Anglican Bishop Thomas Ken. These four lines are some of the most treasured and sung in the history of the Church. We know it as the Doxology.
We want to encourage you to read, and sing—yes, sing—the Doxology as your prayer of adoration! You may want to sing it a few times. If you would like, sing along by clicking the play button below. Praise God…for all His blessings.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.The Doxology, by Thomas Ken
Continue with Confession
This week, let’s allow sections of David’s Psalm 32 guide us in confession…
Psalm 32
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
As the Spirit brings any sin to mind, confess it as sin and turn from it (repent). Thank God that He forgives our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Now offer words of Thanksgiving
We noted yesterday that November means Thanksgiving! So, we have begun a list of things we are thankful for, looking back on 2017. Start back in January 2017 and list one to two things each day between now and Thanksgiving Day. This can become a list you can use on Thanksgiving Day.
Having looked back on the year, note these words from 1 Chronicles 16:35…
Then say, ‘Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to Your holy name, and glory in Your praise.’
1 Chronicles 16:35
Wow. So we are saved in part to be a people who give thanks to God! Give thanks that God gathers and delivers us…
Conclude with Supplication & Intercession…
To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love…
John Calvin
Let’s continue to express our love for those who have not come to embrace the truest hope in the universe, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, by praying for them.
What needs of your own or others does the Holy Spirit bring to your mind right now? Pray for those things.
