In intercession you bring the person, or the circumstance, that impinges on you before God until you are moved by His attitude towards that person or circumstance.
Oswald Chambers
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
Begin by adding one or two more things to your list of things you are thankful for looking back on the past year…
Now take a moment to thank God for some of the challenges that are facing you right now. As we said earlier, this is not thanking God for evil or harm, but thanking God that He remains in control and faithful even in difficulties, though His hand is hard to discern.
Conclude with Supplication & Intercession…
Think for a moment about God’s attitude, God’s heart for those who don’t have a personal relationship with Him. With those thoughts in mind, let’s continue to pray for those who we know do not know Christ.
During the past 24-48 hours, what things have happened, what needs have you become aware of in your own life, and in the life of others, that you can pray for? Pray for those things now…
