Morning Prayer: Wed, 19 Oct – Psalm 119:113-117; Isaiah 55:8-9; Ephesians 1:3; 2:6-7 ~ keep looking down

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

I have come to seek You, O God, just as I am I come. I have come to be sought by You, just as I am I come.

I will wait for the Lord. My soul waits, and in His word do I hope.

Reading:Psalm 119:113-117 (NLT)

I hate those with divided loyalties, but I love your instructions. You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God.

Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed. Sustain me, and I will be rescued; then I will meditate continually on your decrees.

Reading: Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Reading: Ephesians 1:3; 2:6-7 (NLT)

north_america_from_low_orbiting_satellite_suomi_npp

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
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For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
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I knew a man who always said ‘Keep looking down,’ ‘You mean keep looking up, don’t you?’ ‘No! No! We are seated together with Christ in heavenly places!’ (Arthur Burns)

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Prayer – Jimmy Owens

Keep looking down, we’re seated in the heavenlies,
God’s mighty power has raised us over all.
Keep looking down, above the principalities,
for we have ‘died and risen with the Lord.’
And in His name we have authority,
and in His name we shall prevail,
And in His name we dare to face the enemy
and in His name we cannot fail.
Keep looking down!

“Before the Throne of God Above” – Selah

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

20 Days of Prayer for America – free and brave

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

– Joshua 1:9 (NLT)
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Free me to follow You, and I will obey Your truth. Always keep me faithful.

+ Lord of our [American] yesterdays and hope of bright tomorrows, empower Your people once again.
+ Lift us from futile passivity or a clinging to rocks of ages past.
+ Strike joyous freedom, brave and bold to face this day.
+ We leave our outgrown shells beneath the tide of half-forgotten dreams and monuments to pride of other years.
+ The living Christ calls, ‘Follow Me!’ and asks, ‘Do you really love Me more than these?’

Saint Piran (sixth century)
A Call to New Beginnings

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land-of-the-free-because-of-the-brave-flag

Prayer: Free and Brave

Lord Jesus: In the upcoming presidential election, we are being asked to leave behind the certain corruption of the past for the uncertain promise of a better future. Give us the courage to move forward in faith towards a better future.

+ Deliver us from the evil of past administrations.
+ Call us, once again, to love You and follow You before all else.
+ Give us the boldness to walk with You into a new season of freedom.
+ And, raise up a brave citizenry – confident of Your presence with us.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit – one God forever. Amen.