Simple Short Daily Prayer Books Series Book 2

Other Simple Prayers P37

1. Meeting Together In Jesus
Read Hebrews 10:19–25.
Don't give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing but encourage one another. Hebrews 10:25.
Read Judges 13:15 and Luke 6:27–49.

When I went through an extended period of emotional and spiritual pain and struggle due to difficult circumstances in my life, it would have been easy for me to withdraw from church. (And sometimes I did wonder, Why bother?) But I felt compelled to keep attending each Sunday.
Although my situation remained the same for many long years, worshiping and gathering with other believers in services, prayer meetings, and Bible study supplied the encouragement I needed to persevere and remain hopeful. And often I'd not only hear an uplifting message or teaching, but l'd receive comfort, a listening ear, or a hug I needed from others. (I know what that feels like I get my Godly comfort through His animals I get to care for. 3 weeks ago the horse I ride laid his head on my shoulder to hug me while I was grooming him right before we were about to ride. And that day I really did need it. His name is Epic and He's a Welsh breed mountain pony, Skylights. I will never ever forget that moment. He's the only horse who's ever laid his head on my shoulder. I am so grateful to God that He used His creation to comfort me that day. Animals can help glorify God I know that was God working through Epic to tell me something I needed to hear and feel. –Lumna10.)
The author of Hebrews wrote, "[Don't givel up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but [encourage] one another" (HEBREWS 10:25). This author knew that when we face hardships and difficulties, we'll need the reassurance of others-and that others would need ours. So this Scripture writer reminded readers to
"hold unswervingly to the hope we profess" and to consider how to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (VV. 23-24). That's a big part of what encouragement is. That's why God leads us to keep meeting together. Someone may need your loving encouragement, and you may be surprised by what you receive in return. –Alyson Kieda.

When have you felt encouraged after leaving a worship service?

Why?

Who needs your support and reassurance?

Prayer 271: Loving God, please help me not to give up meeting together with other believers, but to experience together Your peace and love in Jesus' name amen I pray.

2. Psalm 72 Leaders
Read Psalm 72:1–7.
May he be like rain falling on a mown field like showers watering the earth. Psalm 72:6
Read also Judges 16–18 and Luke 7:1–30.

In July 2022, Britain's prime minister was forced to step down after what many felt were lapses in integrity (the newly appointed prime minister stepped down just months later!). The event was triggered when the country's health minister attended an annual parliamentary prayer breakfast, felt convicted about the need for integrity in public life, and resigned. When other ministers resigned too, the prime minister realized he had to leave. It was a remarkable moment, originating from a peaceful prayer meeting.
Believers in Jesus are called to pray for their political leaders (1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2), and Psalm 72 is a good guide for doing so, being both a ruler's job description and a prayer to help them achieve it. It describes the ideal leader as a person of justice and integrity (VV. 1-2), who defends the vulnerable (V. 4), serves the needy (VV. 12-13), and stands against oppression (V. 14). Their time in office is so refreshing, it's like "showers watering the earth" (V.6), bringing prosperity to the land (VV. 3, 7, 16). While only the Messiah can perfectly fulfill such a role (V. 11), what better standard of leadership could be aimed for?
The health of a country is governed by the integrity of its office-bearers. Let's seek "Psalm 72 leaders" for our nations and help them to embody the qualities found in this psalm by praying it for them.

What qualities do you look for in a leader?

How can you pray more often for your local and national leaders?

Prayer 272: Father, please empower our leaders to be people of justice, integrity, and goodness in Jesus' name amen.

4. I Hear You, God!
Read John 10:1–11 & Verse 16.
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him and the sheep listen to his voice. John 10:3.

Baby Graham fussed and wiggled as his mother held him in her lap while the doctors inserted his first hearing aid. Moments, after the doctor turned on the device, Graham stopped crying. His eyes widened. He grinned. He could hear his mother's voice comforting him, encouraging him, and calling his name.
Baby Graham heard his mother speaking, but he needed help learning how to recognize her voice and understand the meaning of her words. Jesus invites people into a similar learning process.
Once we accept Christ as our Savior, we become the sheep He knows intimately and guides personally (JOHN 10:3). We can grow to trust and obey Him as we practice hearing and heeding His voice (V. 4).
In the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophets. In the New Testament, Jesus-God in the flesh-spoke directly to people. Today, believers in Jesus have access to the power of the Holy Spirit, who helps us understand and obey God's words which He inspired and preserved in the Bible. We can communicate directly with Jesus through our prayers as He speaks to us through Scripture and through His people. As we come to recognize God's voice, which is always in alignment with His words in the Bible, we can cry out with grateful praise, "I hear You, God!" –Xochitl Dixon.

(Prayer 273: Amen indeed, thank you for providing the world with these mature Believers in You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit. Continue to bless them as You do me with your steadfast love and faithfulness in Your name amen I pray. –Lumna10)
How has God used the Scriptures to reveal Himself to you this week?

How can you speak His wisdom to others who need comfort or encouragement today?
Prayer 274: I hear You, God! Please help me receive and share the truth and love You reveal to me as I read the Bible in Jesus' name amen I do pray.

3. Prayer 275: about you!
Lord God, let us ever be mindful of Your abiding, continued presence in our lives in Jesus' name amen.
Read Jeremiah 2:20–32 and Psalm 139:1-6 & Verses 13–18.
Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number. Jeremiah 2:32.

4. Prayer 276: Lord Jesus Christ fix our eyes on You alone as our hope in this life amen we pray in Your holy name.
Read 1st Peter 1:13–21 and Psalm 116:1–9.
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of jesus Christ. 1st Peter 1:13

The Fullness of Hope
The Christian life is a life of hope a looking to something greater that we cannot yet see. But what is it, exactly, that we're looking forward to? If you were to ask random Christians this question, you'd probably get a slew of answers. Many would say that our hope is in our going to heaven when we die. Others might claim that we hope to one day be perfect, free from all sin and suffering. Still others would herald the coming judgment of God, that final day when He will destroy Satan and all evildoers forever.
But Peter takes a different approach. He charges us to completely set our hope not on what eternal life will be like but purely on the person of Jesus Christ Himself. He, ultimately, is our hope as Christians. There is no better place to be than at Jesus' side! And one day, we'll be there. We will see Him face-to-face, as He really is.

Our Lord is coming back to earth for us, and when He does, He will complete His new creation: a new heaven, a new earth, for a new us.
May our Lord come back to us soon!
(So very true, and Peter's answer and decision is one made with a clear conscience thanks to the Holy Spirit it is also the right answer to give others too. –Lumna10.)

Prayer 277: Draw near to us, Lord Jesus, for we long to receive everything You provide in Your holy name amen.
Read Joel 2:18–27 and Psalm 48.
You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And My people shall never again be put to shame. Joel 2:27.

Prayer 278: Help us to put off the old and embrace the new Lord Jesus in Your holy name amen we do pray.

Read Colossians 3:1–17 and Psalm 51: 1–12.
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14.

Prayer 279: Our lives lie ever before You, Lord. Be our God in every moment, giving us all that we need, according to Your plan and in Your time in Jesus' name amen we pray.

Read Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 and Psalm 147
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1.