Congregational Excellence Prayer Team [link removed] January 2021
It was not pretty, but we survived! By any measure, 2020 was a tough year. A worldwide pandemic, an economic downturn, racial injustice, and a contentious election combined to make it a massive challenge on multiple levels. The consequences of this past year will be with us for a long time.
But a new year always brings fresh hope: hope for healing, hope for COVID immunity, hope for reconciliation, hope for justice, and hope for love to overcome hate.
It is easy with the seismic struggles around us to lose sight of this indispensable quality, but a Christ-follower’s hope runs deeper than the problems or solutions this world offers. When you are tempted to throw in the towel, consider this blessing from nearly 500 years ago.
Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing frighten you.
All things pass away.
God is unchangeable.
Patience gains everything.
[The one] who clings to God wants nothing.
God alone is sufficient.
–Teresa of Avila
God is with us. We can get through this together. Keep hope alive.
Happy New Year!
Roger Ross
We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
P.S. For encouragement, you can receive a weekly Prayer Text by texting KINGDOM to 573-227-6557.
As our country and world continue to battle COVID-19, we are painfully aware of the racial and ethnic injustices that plague our national character. We have much to bring before God.
Feel free to pray for a different area each day. Thanks for praying!
SUNDAY: HOPE- Thank God for surviving 2020! Pray for 2021 to bring fresh hope for healing physically, spiritually, and socially across our nation and world. Lord, multiply your Kingdom through us.
MONDAY: PEACE- Pray for God’s perfect love to cast out all spirits of division, suspicion, anxiety, and panic that threaten our communities and sense of community.
TUESDAY: LEADERSHIP- Invite the Holy Spirit to work in and among us for a peaceful transition of power in our nation.
WEDNESDAY: JUSTICE- Pray for justice to roll down like waters and right living like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24), so we may repent of racism and overcome the evil powers of this world with good.
THURSDAY: NEW PLACES- Ask the Holy Spirit to lead 18 laypersons and pastors to be part of the 2021 Planting Academy which begins in late February. Our Inspire Retreat for people interested in the Planting Academy is Saturday, January 16th, 1-4 pm by Zoom.
FRIDAY: HEALING- Claim the blood of Jesus as a shield and healing over people and institutions as well as all first responders and medical personnel in the battle against COVID-19. Please seek God for full healing for the several UM pastors and laypersons in Missouri in a severe battle with COVID. (SO grateful for your prayers for Pastor David Fitzmaurice who is recovering from COVID after 86 days on a ventilator!).
SATURDAY: PROTECTION- Praise God for researchers who have developed effective, affordable, and safe COVID-19 vaccines! Pray that hundreds of millions of people can be vaccinated quickly and safely.
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