Luke 24.13-17
- When Jesus conquered death?
- When God works providentially in your life?
- When God has made forgiveness available to you?
—Bobby Cloyd, Keltonburg TN congregation
Never a glass half empty
Father, let us never be people
who only see a glass half empty,
but a nation who lives in your fullness,
a family who dives into piled-up grace,
who delights in gift upon gift,
agents of a single mission who refuse
to keep salvation for self,
who understand that gospel means sharing,
that Good News means speaking,
that the Cross is proclamation,
and that the Spirit brings transformation
and a change of eternal destiny.
Lord God, keep us from squabbles and minor issues,
tear from us the tendency toward clergy preachers,
pride in physical things and buildings,
merit of our own construction,
and build us up in the Word as members of the body,
each one aware of his responsibility,
each one active in his place,
everyone contributing to the greater good
and growth of the saints.
Authority to forgive
Father, we are grateful that you know our deepest need and that Jesus has power and authority on earth to forgive our sins.
We are grateful that he comes to us and calls us to follow him, for we are sick people in need of a doctor.
Lord, we are grateful to devote ourselves to prayer and fasting while we wait for the powerful coming of our Savior from heaven.
We are grateful that the Christ is among us and willing to be touched with our petitions of pain and grief.
Sovereign God, we are grateful that our faith brings healing and that the mercy of Christ restores our senses.
We are grateful for his compassion that drives him to all the towns and cities and ask that you send workers into his harvest.
Based on Matthew 9.