I had something planned for today, but I decided to hold off on that. Today I would just like to share this space with you to pray for the upcoming seasons in our lives. Our lives are connected, yet quite distinctive. What I may be going through you may not be, but there is always something we are in need of God for. Taking time to intercede for each other is modeling Jesus and His thoughtfulness for others. In John 17, Jesus prays His last prayer and He uses that prayer to pray for the unity of the disciples and the unity of the followers after them—that’s us. Jesus’ last prayer was about you and me and we should only continue that by praying for one another.
I am learning that the most powerful tool at the disposal of a body of Jesus followers is how connected they are, how unified they are in light of the differences and disagreements. Our unity is sometimes what gets us through the trouble and suffering we endure in life. Aside from living a life of hopelessness, loneliness is one of the worst forms of hell we experience on earth. It is not good for man to be alone, therefore, may we stay connected to the true vine and to each other. We need each other in order to survive. May this prayer reach your heart wherever you are:
Father, thank You for the mercy that told us to wake up one more time and the grace given to make it through each moment You allow us to have. I pray for those who follow You and trust in Your name that they will be drawn to You like Moses was drawn to You, that in the face of the trouble they may face today they may hope in Your goodness. In this world bones will break, hearts will ache, but You desire to restore us; there is no hurt or suffering, no grief or pain that You cannot redeem. You do not waste out experience. The same hope of glory that Jesus saw on the cross, may this hope fill their minds and hearts in whatever place You have Your people. You promised never to forsake us, even when we have to walk through the furnace, or the valley, if we have to wander in the wilderness, or if we find ourselves facing the storms of life, You are there. May we trust what we have heard You say when we cannot see You. May we continue to hold on to hope that what things seem like now is not the end; suffering and trouble is temporary but joy is eternal. May Your will be done today on earth as it is in heaven.
Until next time, continue to stay guided by grace,
Tra
Guided by Grace 