Wed 29th April Bible reading and prayer click (Read Below)

Praying for a loved one I long to visit (Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13)

(Adapted from Rachel Jones 5 things to pray in a global Crisis)

1/ EAGER LONGING v6 “Timothy has just come to us.. he has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you”

If we are longing to see someone it is because we love them, and to love and to be loved in return is a sweet blessing, as Paul knew as he wrote to this Thessalonian Church which he was parted from. So thank God for those you love but cannot visit: For the love you have, and for the “pleasant memories” that you share, and for the means you have to keep in touch. Pray for that person and think of some way that you might practically communicate your love and care for that person this week!

2/ STANDING FIRM v8-9 “For now we really live because you are standing firm in the Lord”

Pray that this person, would come to, or continue to stand firm in the Lord, trusting in Christ for salvation, even amidst the difficulty. Give thanks that difficult times provide opportunities for us all to turn to God and look to him and not ourselves. Please pray for anyone you know or have heard of that has come faith amidst the current difficulty. Pray that they will grow strong and stand firm in their faith.

3/ A WAY TO BE REUNITED v11 “Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.”

Pray that God will soon bring this pandemic to an end and that we will soon be reunited with loved ones. Pray that until that happens that we would seek daily to glorify God in all we are and do, making the most of every opportunity we have to look to Jesus daily and encourage others to do likewise.  

4/ INCREASING IN LOVE v12 “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and everyone else..

Let us pray for one another that “God’s Spirit” would empower us all to grow in our love for God and that His love will flow through us into our families, church family and neighbourhood! Pray daily that our love for Jesus will grow deeper and be reflected in our thoughts, words and deeds.   

5/ STRONG HEARTS v13 “May he strengthen your hearts so that you may be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father, when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”

We long for the days that we will be able to unite and see family and friends again but let’s pray for one another that we would have an even greater longing to see Jesus our Lord and saviour face to face, for in his presence is fullness of joy and at his right hand is eternal pleasure (Psalm 16:11)

General prayer requests!

• Continue to pray for our church family during this lockdown period and in particular remember Robert and Phyllis Mckeeman and extended family as they grieve the death of Sarah Mckeeman. We also remember others who are grieving over the death of loved one and in particular many as a result of the corona virus.
• Continue to remember our missionaries and pray that our Sunday online service will be a time for encouragement and building up of our faith during this lockdown period.
• Remember families with children at various ages that the Lord will use this time to knit together a deeper love for Jesus and for one another, pray for those in our families and friendship circle who don’t yet know Christ that their eyes will be opened to see the beauty of Jesus and turn to him in repentance and faith.