The Pastor’s Corner

Prayer: Grant almighty God that your people would listen carefully to the pointed words of your Son when he tells his followers that they must live lives of self-denial. We confess to you that we are often prone to seek our own way and our own pleasure. Too often, we live each day as though this life defines the core of our existence. Yet, we know what your Word tells us -- to store up treasures in heaven and to set our minds on things above. We are easily ensnared by the trivial issues of this world. We complain and gripe over our own rights and concerns. Yet, we so rarely think about your Kingdom. We are busy building our own and put all of our energies into things that will not satisfy and will come to an end. We disregard our souls for the sake of our bodies. We ignore that which feeds our soul and clamor over our next morsel of bread. We ignore the needs of others for the sake of our own needs. In short, we fall miserably short of living lives of self-denial. Forgive us, Father, for such shortsighted thinking and living. Please grant us true godly repentance in these areas and give us more desire to live as your Son called his followers to live -- taking up our cross daily and denying self always. All of these things we pray through Him who denied himself to rescue us. Amen.

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Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18-20

I suspect that some Christians do grow weary in prayer as they labor day after day to plead with the God of heaven for their loved ones, the sick and infirmed, the needs of their brothers and sisters, and many other things. It can be tiresome labor to be on your knees and yet, see so little response from the Father in heaven. Sometimes these thoughts can cause us to give up, try a little or once, and then move along our day with the nagging and unsettling emotion that God doesn't hear and doesn't seem to care. First, my friends, God does listen to you. You are precious to him, and you belong to him. Second, he does care. He has told his people to cast every care upon him because he cares for us.

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Prayer: Grant almighty and holy God that your people would gather in worship today to sing your praises and listen intently to your Word as sheep that often stray and have a great need to be guided by the light given for our journey. You know our frame -- that we are but dust. You know how prone to wander we are and how much we need your Holy Spirit to guide our way and illumine our minds and hearts. Father, forgive us for so easily straying from your commandments. As the church of old, we, too, are often stiff-necked and stubborn. Too often, we hear without listening, and then, we great sorrow, we realize that we have become mere hearers of your Word and not also obedient to it. Forgive us, Lord. Please grant us a great willingness to listen and to do all you tell us. Please give us attentive hearts that we may not fall and perish on our journey we pray through Christ our Lord and the Good Shepherd of the sheep. Amen.

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Prayer: Grant almighty God and merciful Lord that your redeemed and chosen people would labor each day to glorify you in whatever they are called to do by your divine providence. We thank you that you have ordered our days and that our lives are in your hands. We witness your loving-kindness throughout the pages of your Word. We notice your care and guidance for your covenant people leading them from the land of sin and misery to their promised rest. We, too, are like them. We have been delivered from the bondage of the evil one and placed into your marvelous kingdom of light and righteousness. As citizens of this Kingdom, we gladly serve the King of kings and Lord of lords. Indeed, as recipients of your infinite love and grace, it is our reasonable service to offer our lives as living sacrifices seeking to be conformed more and more to the image of our Lord. Father, we confess to you that we are often consumed with the things of this world. We often place our affections and hopes on the fleeting things of this life. We often set aside those things that are eternal and lasting for that which will pass away. Forgive us for trading that which is good and lasting for that which will never satisfy our wandering souls. Please grant to us more of your Spirit who will move us and cause us to grow to full manhood in the knowledge of Christ through whom we pray. Amen.

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Prayer: Grant almighty God that you would rise and bless your church, the very bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are a new creation through him, and we are thankful that he came to seek and save her through his suffering, death, and resurrection. We thank you that the church will never perish and that our Lord and Savior protects and defends her from his and our enemies. We thank you that you will never abandon your church though she is often assailed by great difficulties, false sons, heresies, and other matters that seek to destroy her. Through all of our years, you have cared for and watched over the very bride of Christ. We pray that you would make her holy, blameless, and ready for her husband. We plead with you to make your church faithful to your Word, laboring daily while it is still day, to do all that you have commanded. We confess that we, as your church, are often faithless, but you are faithful and good, gently and patiently leading your people to their heavenly rest. Grant us more affection for the King and Head of the church and grant that he would speedily return to usher in the consummation when there will be peace forevermore. All of these things we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer: Grant almighty God that we your people, chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in your sight, we lean upon you through the storms that we must endure in this fallen world. Your word plainly tells us that you are our refuge and strength. We know that you have been our help in ages past and a shelter from the stormy blast, and for that, we are thankful. You have proven your faithfulness day unto day, and, therefore, we have no reason to fear what man will do. We confess the miserable state of our nation and world. We look around, and we see so much rebellion and so much evil. We mourn and grieve these things and confess to you that we sometimes grow weary and anxious -- we fret! Forgive us, Father. We know that you have ordered these things according to your sovereign decree. Since your Word tells us that you are good and just, doing all things for the well-being of your church, we know that we can rely on you even in those times when things are hard to understand. Therefore, our God, help us, we plead. Humble us and cause us to see that while it may seem that you are doing nothing, what you are doing would not likely be believed by us even if you told us. You are God, and we bow before your divine right to rule and reign as you see fit. Give us more of your grace we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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