Prayer 240814 (James 4 - Doing Faith)

Heavenly Father,

We have just acknowledged that we can fall short of your will for our lives. We can be greedy, and selfish.  We can fight and be jealous, even with other members of our church family. We try to feed our own wants, instead of coming to you with our needs. We think we can run our lives, but we can't.

And we thank you that even while we are still sinners, you send Jesus Christ to die for us, to pay for our rebellion, and put us back in your good books. You have given us the greatest and most costly gift ever - your own son, for our eternal lives. Why is it we then expect you to be stingy with anything else?

And so we ask you now, Lord - make us your people, fully and completely. Help us take that first step towards you, knowing that you will close the distance and embrace us. Give us pure minds, and clean hearts, seeking your righteousness. Help us to tame our tongues, and to use our words for your good, pleasing and perfect will. Help us to serve you with our deeds, so that all might know our faith is alive and true.

We ask you, Lord, to step into the lives of those who are suffering. We think of our brothers and sisters in Iraq, in Syria, in Palestine, in Nigeria, in Sudan, in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia,  Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Bhutan, China, and so many other places, who are suffering for no other reason than that they love you and will not give up on you. Step into their lives, and bring them comfort and joy in the midst of their trials. Allow them to show mercy in their hearts to their accusers and their persecutors. And show your own mercy, by transforming the hearts of your enemies to make them your friends and your children.

We thank you for the faith of Dr Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, who you have healed from Ebola. You are an amazing God! We thank you for the work of Samaritan's Purse, and other godly organisations that are seeking to serve the needs of those sick and dying, in order to show your love to them. Please work through your people to bring healing and hope to West Africa.

We pray for those in our midst who suffer through sickness, poverty, stress and pain. We take a moment to pray for them silently now. We pray that we will be encouraged more deeply in our faith as we see you answering our prayers for those around us and those far from us.

And we pray that through these things we ask, you will be glorified. Grant us these things, for we ask by the authority of Jesus Christ and for his glory, Amen.