Welcome to this week’s edition of our prayer and fasting update!
Before giving you a couple of suggested focal points for prayer, I would like to take an assessment of involvement in this prayer and fasting initiative. We began our focused season of prayer and fasting last summer with a focus on our government and on spiritual renewal for our nation. I would like to know if you are still engaged in this time of intercession. If you are still participating, please send me a quick check-in at this address: paul.thepraisecommunity01@gmail.com. I am wanting to see if we should be continuing this work or if the call we had last summer has come to an end. Thanks for your response!
This week I am suggesting we focus our prayer on the church where we worship as well as the churches in northeast Ohio. They are such an important foundation for our faith walk. Please pray for the Lord to move this Sunday and beyond. For that reason, as I have done one before, I am shipping my email to you a bit early.
“Lord, I lift up our church to you and ask that you would bring the heart of the church in alignment with Your heart. I pray that You would break our hearts for the things that break Yours, and let us desire the things that You desire. I pray that each message and word spoken would be Biblically sound and would reflect Christ’s heart to the congregation. Open our hearts to be receptive of conviction so that we may always walk in tune with Your guidance. In Jesus’ name, amen.” “Lord, I thank you for each and every person that you have placed in leadership in our church. I pray that they would continue to grow in wisdom and discernment as their ultimate desire is to seek Your face. I pray for rest as being in leadership in a church can be spiritually demanding and exhausting. I lift up their families to you and thank You that You see each and every one of their needs and are faithful to meet them. I pray for a continuation of growth and discipleship in each of their lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
2 Timothy 4:2 (NCV) Preach the Good News. Be ready at all times, and tell people what they need to do. Tell them when they are wrong. Encourage them with great patience and careful teaching.
John 4:24 (NCV) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.“
1 Peter 5:2 (NCV) Shepherd God’s flock, for whom you are responsible. Watch over them because you want to, not because you are forced. That is how God wants it. Do it because you are happy to serve, not because you want money.
Matthew 9:37-38 (NCV) Jesus said to his followers, “There are many people to harvest but only a few workers to help harvest them. 38 Pray to the Lord, who owns the harvest, that he will send more workers to gather his harvest.“
Lord Jesus bless you this week!
Paul Laursen, on behalf of the leadership teams of
The Praise Community and Advent Church
