Tag: Lamb of God

“Then he said to me, ‘Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days” (Dan. 10:12–14).

Thank you for joining Lamb of God parish during our 21 days of prayer and fasting emphasis. As you prayed with us each day, many of you commented through email and Facebook, that the daily written prayers greatly encouraged you in your walk with God. For that, we are deeply grateful. Thanks to Fr. Glenn, Fr. Scott, India, and Nicholas for writing prayers that kept us focused on the magnificence of the Father, the beauty of the Son, and the power of the Holy Spirit. May your walk with the Lord abound and prosper as you continue to seek, follow, and obey our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

~~Book of Common Prayer, Prayer of Self-Dedication, 832.

“’And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:29-31 ESV).

The early Christians soon faced intense opposition to the message of God’s free salvation in Jesus Christ. Their response was to pray together for boldness to speak God’s word without fear and for God to back their preaching up with signs. We live in an age when people are rejecting Christianity, but many are rejecting a false idea of it. The Enemy uses this to keep us silent, “Surely your coworker doesn’t want to hear about Jesus. Of course, they won’t come to church if you invite them.” But so many are hurting and God is able to guide and embolden us to speak honestly to those around us who desperately need Jesus.

“Father, you know I am afraid of rejection, of being seen as one of those weird Christians, but I know that so many around me need Jesus as I need Him. Open my eyes to opportunities to tell people about Him, to share how He has been my help in times of need, my healer and friend. Give me boldness and words to speak when these opportunities come. And show yourself strong on their behalf by healing, providing, encouraging and meeting them in their deepest needs. Amen.”
~~Fr. Scott Howard

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.“ (Colossians 1:13-15 ESV)

Any forward progress in our relationship with Jesus—any victory over sin, any growth in holiness, any usefulness in ministry with our neighbor—will be met with opposition by Satan and his demons. (1 Peter 5:8) But we need not fear this resistance. Jesus has won the decisive victory over Satan. (Hebrews 2:14–18) in Jesus we can resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:5-10).

Prayer: Holy Father, at times it looks like the Enemy is winning, and evil prevails everywhere, and we will never get past Satan’s persistent attacks. But you tell us to “fear not,” because Jesus has won the victory over Satan by his death and resurrection. We believe, Father, as your Word says, that Satan flees when we resist him. Grant us faith to stand when opposition comes, the humility to confess and receive forgiveness when we fail, the strength to rise when we stumble and the discernment to see through Satan’s lies. We stand in the strength that Jesus gives, not our own, and we know you will bring us through trials into victory both in this life and ultimately when you receive us in glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

~~ Fr. Scott Howard

“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself'”(Acts 2:38, 39 ESV).

Having confessed our sins and received forgiveness as He promised (1 John 1:8-10), we confidently ask for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit for ourselves, but also, as promised in today’s verse, we can also ask this for our children, our church, and the Church worldwide.

Heavenly Father, through the ascension of your Son Jesus, our Lord, you sent the Holy Spirit to come along side us and to fill us, to give us power to live lives of faithful obedience, to love our neighbor and minister effectively. We know you to be a good Father who gives good gifts to His children and the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Fill me, my family, and my fellow believers afresh with your Holy Spirit today. Give us the gifts of the Spirit so we may minister to each other and our community in His power. Lastly, manifest through us the fruits of your Spirit so that our lives display Jesus and bring you glory. Amen.

~~ Fr. Scott Howard

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23, 24 NASB95).

Prayer: Today begins five days of supplication as our 21 days of prayer draw to an end. When we honestly and humbly open our hearts to God we are struck by the contradiction of God’s ferocious love for us and our utter unworthiness to receive it. As we progress in our relationship with Him this contradiction only deepens and we realize our desperate need of Jesus who alone resolves this contradiction by His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Hope awakens when we learn that by His blood He removes all barriers between us and God and He invites us to come to Him as children with even our smallest concerns. (Hebrews 4:16) With that confidence, let us ask God to draw us closer to Him and make us more like Jesus by praying the familiar, but profound Collect for Purity:

“Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

~~Fr. Scott Howard

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father! (Gal 4:6).

Prayer: Father, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to live in and through me. Thank you that you didn’t leave me alone. Thank you for speaking to me, giving me direction, encouragement, and conviction. You have given me everything I need to walk by the Spirit, today. If I had to walk this walk on my own, I could not make it. Thank you that you have given me limitless power to do what pleases you, through the Holy Spirit. Father, in Jesus’ name, I ask you to fill me with your Spirit today.

~~ Nicholas Beckham

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us (Romans 8:34).

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that you defeated death, hell, and the grave and are seated at God’s right hand. Thank you, that you entered the Holy of Holies and you are praying to the Father for me right now. I give you thanks because you are in control of all the circumstances of my life. I know that nothing that happens today is beyond your reach. Lord, I trust you to work through me. If there is any thought, word, or deed in me that is not obedient to you, please show me, and help me to change it.

~~Nicholas Beckham

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Prayer: Lord, you said in your Word to give thanks in all things. Thank you when things don’t go right for me. Thank you when I feel like people have left me out. Thank you when I feel like other people got a better deal than me. Thank you for not making my life easy all the time. Thank you for heartache and trials. Thank you for all the things about me that I can’t change. Thank you for the doors that always seem to be closed. Thank you for the missed opportunities. Thank you for using these struggles to make me more like Christ.

~~Nicholas Beckham

 

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 107:1)

Prayer: Father, thank you for this day. I praise you for your goodness. Thank you for blessing me with so many wonderful things. You have given me good food, clothing, and shelter. I am blessed with good friends, family, and a church that loves me. Thank you for letting me live in a nation where I can worship you without persecution. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent Christ to the people I live and work with. You have given me so much, Lord.

~~ Nicholas Beckham