Prayer
Today, Pastor Amy began the worship series on Prayer. She began by reading Psalm 103 which gives us a good picture of our relationship with God:1 Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: 8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- 18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. 20 Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. 21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. 22 Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, O my soul.
As an example of how we must appear in our relationship to God, Amy showed us the tattered pink-ish pig which belongs to her daughter. Even though we are so broken and tattered and worn out by sin, God loves us. He forgives us. He already knows that we are broken, but then He gives us prayer as the method to communicate with Him. Prayer is the place where we lay out our brokenness and we are accepted by Him. We have to trust Him with what He already knows about us.
Toward the end, Amy challenged us to commit to use prayer in 2007 - and to think of it as our part in our love relationship to Him.
posted by Jewels @ 1:58 PM
2 Comments:
This morning I claimed the promises in Psalm 103. I know a God that heals diseases and will raise us up as on wings of eagles. This morning I felt like that tattered piggy. But when this loving family surrounded me with their healing touch and prayer I experienced the presence of God. You were Jesus to me. I praise God that he led us to MCC at this time and place. Not so Anonymous.
You reminded me of the song sung at Ford's funeral!
And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
What a great promise!
Post a Comment
<< Home