WEEKLY PRAYER SHEET 20-6-16
THEME— Making Sacrifices
Bible verse: "If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce
himself and take up his cross every day and follow me" Luke 9:23
MONDAY–
This week’s Bible passage comes just after Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do the crowds say I
am?” The disciples reply that the crowds think Jesus is one of the prophets from long ago come
back to life. Then Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you think I am?” Peter then replies, “God’s
Messiah.” Messiah is the term for God’s Son, the one who will rescue God’s people, the Saviour.
Our own beliefs are often influenced by those around us (the crowd) but it is important to make
up your own mind on what you believe. If Jesus asked you the question, “Who do you think I
am?” what would be your answer?
Let us pray
Lord Jesus, throughout history people have thought about the question of who you are. Some have dismissed
you as not existing even though history has proved that you did. Some have thought of you as just a good man,
others as a prophet. But for those who have discovered you as their Lord and Saviour, as God’s Son, part of the
Trinity God, you have given them great joy and the promise of eternal life with you! We pray that more and more
people would come to know you as you as their Lord and Saviour.
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
TUESDAY Jesus asks his disciples “Who do you say I am?” and
Peter, on behalf of the disciples, says that he is the
Messiah. Jesus then makes an odd statement. He
tells his disciples that their discovery will not bring
them peace and prosperity but hardship. Jesus tells
them that He is going to suffer and be put to death
and then be raised to life on the third day. He goes
on to say, “Whoever wants to be my disciple
must deny themselves and take up their
cross daily and follow me.” We are used to the
cross being a symbol of the Christian faith, but in
Jesus’ time it was a symbol of suffering and death.
Around the world today many people are suffering
for their faith in Jesus. They know that Jesus hasn’t
abandoned them as he never promised us an easy
ride. What he did promise was to “never leave us or
forsake us.”
Let us pray
Dear Lord Jesus, you never promised us a life without
trials and hardships, yet often when they come we feel hard
done by and that somehow you have let us down. Help us
to be prepared to make sacrifices for you Lord, as you
made the biggest sacrifice for us.
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
WEDNESDAY-
To be a great sports person requires dedication,
perseverance and sacrifice. It is the long term
goal of sporting success that keeps the great
athletes going. Jesus warns us that we need the
same commitment to following him. “Whoever
wants to be my disciple must deny
themselves and take up their cross daily
and follow me.” Jesus then went on to
explain further, “For whoever wants to save
their life will lose it, but whoever loses their
life for me will save it. What good is it for
someone to gain the whole world, and yet
lose or forfeit their very self?” Jesus reminds
us that this world is not the be-all and end-all of
our lives. We are in danger of gaining much in this
world but lose everything in the next. Jim Elliot, a
missionary who was killed while taking the Gospel
to a tribe of Indians in Ecuador, said “He is no
fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what
he cannot lose."
Let us pray
Dear Lord Jesus, putting you first in our lives doesn’t
come naturally and requires us to make sacrifices. Yet
those very sacrifices mean that we gain so much more.
Open our spiritual eyes, Lord, so that we can see the
truth.
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
THURSDAY– EU Referendum
Today the country votes for whether we stay in Europe or not. Many of your parents and even
yourselves will have strong views either way. Whichever way the vote goes our prayer should be that
our country works to uphold good principles and is a force for good in the world. With our focus on
making sacrifices this week the comment by the Archbishop of Canterbury is relevant
“Sacrifice, generosity, vision beyond self-interest, suffering for others, helping the helpless,
these are some of the deeply Christian principles that have shaped us. They are principles
that show us at our best, as an example to other countries, as a home of freedom and
democracy, as a beacon of hope that shines around a dark world.”
Once the voting has taken place, we need everyone to come together to work with the decision even if it
is not their preferred choice. We need to pray for unity.
Let us pray,
Dear Lord Jesus, we lift up the EU referendum taking place today to you. We pray that as a nation we will not forget the Christian
principles that have shaped Britain over the past few hundred years; principles of sacrifice, generosity, vision beyond selfinterest, suffering for others and helping the helpless. Whatever the decision that is made we pray that you will bless our nation
so that we can bless others. Help us not to want to keep your blessings to ourselves. We also pray that there will be no lasting
animosity between those in the different camps, to leave or to remain. We pray for unity, that all people will be working for the
good of our country.
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
FRIDAY–
For those who believe in God, although this world is not the be-all and end-all, it is where our important
decisions are made. Jesus has told us that we need to make sacrifices daily and those who are more
concerned with this life will lose their live in the next. Jesus then says “Whoever is ashamed of me
and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in
the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” With much of western culture ridiculing the idea
of the existence of God, our faith can be often pushed into the dark corners of our lives, a secret that
we try and keep quiet. Yet Jesus doesn’t give us the option of living this way. He says that if we are too
ashamed to say that we are His followers, and ashamed of what the Bible says, then He will be
ashamed of us when He comes in glory!
Let us pray ,
Dear Lord Jesus, in your word you frequently warn us not to be lukewarm in our love for you, and yet that is often our default
position. Lord, make us passionate for you and passionate about the injustices of this word. Raise up young people in this room
to bring about change. May they not just want to seek pleasures from this live but be willing to serve those who are in need.
.In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Prayer by Charles de Foucauld