… praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints … Ephesians 6:18
Running can be frustrating. Results of your hard work may not be seen right away. You may feel you have hit a plateau and you have gone as far and as fast as you’re going to get. But like most things in life, running takes perseverance. Do not give up. Be persistent. You can meet your goals!
God calls His people to persevere through prayer. Jesus taught a parable about a persistent widow who found herself at the feet of an immoral judge. After repeatedly begging the judge for justice, he finally granted it to her. To what did he attribute his change of heart? Her perseverance (Luke 18:1-8).
In this world of sin, constantly seeking God’s will without immediately seeing results can be frustrating. Do not give up! God hears the prayers of His faithful and rewards their perseverance.
Dear God, sometimes the injustice and immorality of the world is just plain frustrating. Thank You for continuing to listen to the cries of Your people and granting both justice and hope to the world.
- Dear Lord Jesus, we remember your mercy and compassion for a number of our members and loved ones. We join Ellie in thanks for her husband Bob Lembcke now home in heaven for s years. Remind her of your love and your commitment to her as you sent your Son Jesus to repair our broken relationship. Place your promises deep in her heart that she may never forget all that you have done for them and that you have delivered Bob into a new and eternal home in heaven
- Our prayer of concern merges with that of Jen Ford for her son Joey, who now has completed his second hip surgery. Lord, you are the Great Physician. Comfort him as he heals and bring your care through others to assist him. We join Pete Suelflow for his Uncle Gerald Suelflow, how is in the hospital with pneumonia. Guard his life in and through his Savior and lead him in the way everlasting.
- We seek comfort together with Pastor Paul & Lynne Kelm as the Lord has called their son, Peter, into eternal life. Here even in our grief the resurrection of God’s Son from the grave holds us because we know we know that he has now experienced the very message which he has preached, salvation through faith in Jesus. Lord, give Pete’s family, and especially Angie and the children, strength and courage.
- We have new weather catastrophes to bring to your throne, O God, as Hurricane Maria tore much of Puerto Rico apart and Mexico sustained an aggressive earth quake. We continue to seek your compassion on the many impacted by these storms. Grant strength to those who are suffering and safety to those who are attending to their needs. We pray that more people will learn of you and rely upon you, not only for their temporary needs, but especially for their eternal needs. Open the door for God’s people to show your love and share your love and thereby draw more people into your secure family of faith.
- We ask for your continued healing for Sue Wimmer, Sharon Kirsch, and Ruth Goeden who are in various stages of recovery.
Chattanooga, Tenn., mission – Lord Jesus, in recent years you have worked to grow a community of believers in Chattanooga. Please bless the work of this body as they prepare to incorporate as a congregation, and watch over them in the years to come as they proclaim the gospel to their neighborhoods. If it is your will, let this congregation grow and prosper, that it may serve as an anchor point for many more congregations in the years to come. Amen.
ADDITIONAL:
For Lyle Cottrell, Ellie Lembcke’s neighbor who got a staph infection after a shoulder surgery and now has to return to surgery. We add the same prayer for our own new member, Gary Liethen who is continuing to battle an infection from a knee replacement that threatens his leg.