Prayers 11/19

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Dear Heavenly Father, The sacrifice of Jesus shedding His blood on the cross so that mankind could be saved is beyond our understanding. It is awesome to think that even a murderer, who comes to You and repents of his sins, can find forgiveness and be made whole. Thank You for forgiving us and fill our hearts with love and forgiveness towards those that have hurt and abused us. May we extend mercy towards others, so that when we need mercy, we will have some in our storehouse. I ask this in the name of our merciful Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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November 19

Dear Lord Jesus, You, through the Holy Spirit's leading into truth, helped Your servant, J. B. Phillips,* to see that it was PRIDE that caused You the greatest anger. You believed that man, all of us, must recognize this and overcome it if we were ever to follow Your way, Your truth, and Your light. ... Help us to consider this as we read Phillips' translation of Your beatitudes:

(1) "Happy are those who realize their spiritual poverty: they have already entered the kingdom of Reality.

(2) "Happy are they who bear their share of the world's pain: in the long run they will know more happiness than those who avoid it.

(3) "Happy are those who accept life and their own limitations: they will find more in life than anybody.

(4) "Happy are those who long to be truly 'good:' they will fully realize their ambition.

(5) "Happy are those who are ready to make allowances and forgive: they will know the love of God.

(6) "Happy are those who are real in their thoughts and feelings: in the end they will see the ultimate Reality, God.

(7) "Happy are those who help others to live together: they will be known to be doing God's work."

Let us prayerfully consider Phillips' translation as we seek the Holy Spirit's guidance for a better understanding of Your truth.

In the name of Jesus we pray.

Amen.

* (From "YOUR GOD IS TOO SMALL," by J. B. Phillips)

© 2001 by D. L. Hammond, Permission to copy granted

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One in Spirit

Philippians 2:3-11

Dear Father, One God of your one holy people,

Help all of us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility help us count each other better than ourselves.

May we look out for the interests of each other, not just our own.

Let our attitude be the same as was in Christ Jesus, who made himself nothing and obeyed you, our Father, even in the matter of dying.

Help me humbly and obediently to exalt Jesus, even as you have exalted him and given him a name that is above every name, that every knee should bow and every tongue confess - to the glory of you, our God and our Father.

In the name of Jesus Christ, the source of our unity and salvation, I ask these things. Amen.

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A Prayer For Common Sense

Precious Lord Jesus, Wonderful Holy Spirit, all-powerful Father in Heaven, give me the common sense to do common sense things.
Give me the wisdom to see things as they are and not as I want them to be or as I hope for them to be.
Show me the way to use what you have given me rather than letting me long for things I do not have or cannot use.
In your ways of working in the world, let the light you have given me be a light for others.
When I want to go about my life and build castles in the sky, show me the need of those around me who hunger for the most humble of abodes.
When I tend to overlook the most common of people, places, and things, show me these people, places, and things are made by you.
Show me the most common people, places, and things are given to me as an opportunity to let your light shine in the world.
When I think I need special people, places, things, and circumstances to do your work, show me they are already within my grasp through you.
I praise your holy Name for true wisdom and power comes only from you.
In the wonderful name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.