Praying the Prayer Jesus Taught Us to Pray for Worcester, Massachusetts as We Begin 2017
Want to learn more this year about the prayer Jesus taught us to pray for our families, neighborhoods, and city? Connect with us during our next service of worship on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 4 p.m. City Kids is available for children ages 0-3 and 4-6. Hope to see you soon.
Jesus knew the heart of God and knows the hearts of us. We His gracious and sacrificial love to transform ours for others and Worcester so we can join Him in His work of restoration and renewal.
Living in the city of Worcester, I'm thankful that I can join the resurrecting God in walking streets, passing homes, stopping at locales, and asking Him to move on behalf of the people I know and love in and around these places.
Here is the prayer taught us to pray that we can give again and again for the life of our city:
The Father's Character | "Our Father ... May Your name be kept holy."
God is a giving, generous, welcoming, receiving, family-building Father. How can we listen to You and obey Your life-giving words as Your children among those we love and serve?
Jesus’ Kingdom | "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
King Jesus, where the glimpses of Your Kingdom in Worcester that we can join you in? Who and what are the specific people and places You want us to serve alongside You?
Jesus’ Abundance | "Give us today the food we need."
Jesus, You are the Bread of Life that gives us everything we need to live fully. What are the specific needs You want to provide for us and those You are sending us to in the coming days, weeks, months?
The Father's Forgiveness | "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us."
Father, thank You that You love us so much that even when we squander everything You offer and rebel with reckless abandon, You still open You arms for our return. Transform us by Your love to change from natural to supernatural ways of thinking and acting in relation to You and others. How do You want us to change our attitudes and actions to be grace-filled and forgiving like You today?
The Spirit’s Guidance | "Lead us not into temptation."
The Spirit and His surgical Sword – the Scriptures – can not only expose our sin and disease, but also help us fight off the enemy's desire for us to become hopeless or stubborn. Holy Spirit, will You move in power to fight to make us become more like Jesus when the enemy tempts us to settle for selfish comforts, escape, and convenience?
The Trinity’s Protection and Provision | "Deliver us from evil."
God the Father is fulfilling His plan for His family. Jesus is building His church in grace and truth. The Spirit is on the move seeking the lost children of God and fighting for their adoption.
Do we trust that God has supplied – through His Word, His Spirit, and His Church – everything we need to join Him in redeeming, reconciling, and restoring others? Will we pray for God to give us the faith that this is true?
In light of all of the above, and even with only a mustard seed of faith, we can begin to offer these requests to God:
- "Good Father, give us hearts that feel what You feel for Your lost children here."
- "Holy Spirit, reveal Jesus to the people who live within Worcester and allow us to join You when You move."
- "King Jesus, give us a vision for what it would look like if Your Kingdom existed in this place like it does in heaven."
- "Holy Spirit, give us insight into how we can serve and love the people in ways they will understand and will help them consider King Jesus anew."
- "Good Father, provide opportunities for gospel conversations and interactions with people."
- "King Jesus, lead us to People of Peace who want to know You and are ready to seek Your Kingdom."
- "Holy God, give us Your grace in everything we say and do so that King Jesus will be lifted up and that many will be redeemed, reconciled, adopted by You in Your family."
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