A few days ago I posted a challenge to Christians to pray against the violence in our country by praying for other people. Prayer as a response to violence is not a popular idea, I know. Many people, even Christians, seem to think that prayer is ineffective against the evils of our world.
Obviously, I disagree. I propose prayer as an active means of overcoming violence. It has a better chance of succeeding than more gun control (which may never happen), better mental health care (which may never happen), or the banning of violent video games which has also been proposed (which may never happen). I don't consider placing armed teachers or policemen in schools as even worthy of consideration.
A friend I ran into the other day asked about how we should pray, and how could we remember to pray. What I have done is set the alarm on my cell phone for 9:30 on Friday mornings. I'm using that time to pray for a young man I know. Here is the prayer I've written.
(Best if prayed aloud, I think.)
I pray for _______. _________, Jesus says to you “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Trust in me” (John 14:1). “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27, Luke 24:36).
I give thanks for you. You are precious to God. I ask that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which you have been called and that you may know the riches of his glorious inheritance for you and his incomparably great power on your behalf, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Eph 1:16-20).
________, God sets before you today life and prosperity, or death and destruction. Choose life and prosperity, so that you may live and love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him.
For He is your life. I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you (Dt 30:19-20). I pray that you have life and have it to the full (John 10:10).
_______, know that the eternal God is your refuge. You are underneath his everlasting arms (Dt 33:27). The Lord is a refuge when you are in distress and feel oppressed. He is your stronghold in times of trouble (Ps 9:9). The Lord is your rock, your fortress and your deliverer. He is your shield, your salvation and your stronghold. Take refuge in him (Ps 18:2), in the shadow of his wings (Ps 36:7). He is your ever-present help when you are in trouble (Ps 46:1). Place your trust in him (Ps 91:2). You are blessed when you take refuge in him (Ps 2:12).
________, increase in the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). Imitate God and you will live a life of love, just as Christ loved you and gave himself up for you (Eph 5:1-2).
______, I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ’s return. (Phil 1:9-10).
_______, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. May you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13). And be healed and made whole in body, mind and spirit.
Obviously, I disagree. I propose prayer as an active means of overcoming violence. It has a better chance of succeeding than more gun control (which may never happen), better mental health care (which may never happen), or the banning of violent video games which has also been proposed (which may never happen). I don't consider placing armed teachers or policemen in schools as even worthy of consideration.
A friend I ran into the other day asked about how we should pray, and how could we remember to pray. What I have done is set the alarm on my cell phone for 9:30 on Friday mornings. I'm using that time to pray for a young man I know. Here is the prayer I've written.
(Best if prayed aloud, I think.)
I pray for _______. _________, Jesus says to you “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Trust in me” (John 14:1). “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27, Luke 24:36).
I give thanks for you. You are precious to God. I ask that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which you have been called and that you may know the riches of his glorious inheritance for you and his incomparably great power on your behalf, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Eph 1:16-20).
________, God sets before you today life and prosperity, or death and destruction. Choose life and prosperity, so that you may live and love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him.
For He is your life. I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you (Dt 30:19-20). I pray that you have life and have it to the full (John 10:10).
_______, know that the eternal God is your refuge. You are underneath his everlasting arms (Dt 33:27). The Lord is a refuge when you are in distress and feel oppressed. He is your stronghold in times of trouble (Ps 9:9). The Lord is your rock, your fortress and your deliverer. He is your shield, your salvation and your stronghold. Take refuge in him (Ps 18:2), in the shadow of his wings (Ps 36:7). He is your ever-present help when you are in trouble (Ps 46:1). Place your trust in him (Ps 91:2). You are blessed when you take refuge in him (Ps 2:12).
________, increase in the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). Imitate God and you will live a life of love, just as Christ loved you and gave himself up for you (Eph 5:1-2).
______, I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ’s return. (Phil 1:9-10).
_______, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. May you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13). And be healed and made whole in body, mind and spirit.
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