Take heart!

Read:

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 and 16-18 (NIV): “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed… Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”.

Act:

We serve a faithful Father. He is not taken aback by uncertainty, anxiety, silence or loss. He is right beside us, directing our lives and leading us as we acknowledge our mess or the chaos we are experiencing. He is trustworthy and in control.

Let us be determined this week to:
Seek honest communion with Jesus. Let’s allow Him to take our hand and guide us along the path He has set before us! May the prayer of our hearts be to remain conscious of His glorious presence in our lives. And may we seek an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father above all else!
Not do things in our own ability but allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. Let us ask for wisdom and a new infilling of strength to run this race with perseverance and determination. God’s power shows itself through and despite our weakness – so let’s submit our ideas and thoughts to the will of our loving, grace-filled, good, good Heavenly Father.
Hold on to hope, fixing our eyes on Jesus. Let’s ask God to show us the old things we need to lay down, knowing we will be stretched and well equipped to embrace the new seasons of life. Let us look beyond our current circumstances and intentionally fix our eyes on our Lord and Savior – our HOPE and eternal life!
Ask for God’s love, mercy, favor and grace to be showered afresh upon our lives every morning.

Pray:

Jesus, we thank You so much that You’ve called us into a life united with You – a life of true communion with You, as our Lord and Saviour. I pray Father, that we will not shy away from this invitation, and that we will respond to Your call to slow down; to create space for You; and to create capacity in our hearts and in our lives to be with You. I pray that as we do that, we would truly encounter You Lord Jesus. I thank You Holy Spirit that our lives will be marked by Your presence. I pray as we go out into the world and make disciples, as You have called us to, that we will be marked by Your presence – so that the world will in turn will be marked by Your glory God. (Boipelo)

Oh Father, we praise You. We thank You so much for how the Apostle Paul reminds us that You use us in our weaknesses Lord. This is true even when we feel weak and so frail, and at times perplexed. Father, we just thank You that when we fix our eyes on You, we know how the story ends. We thank You for Jesus and for everything that we have in Christ. (Philomena)

Lord, thank You for the opportunity to gather in Your name. Father, thank You that we can rest knowing that You are present. You are our good Father and You are in control. Let Your whispers and nudges leak into our silence. Lord let Your voice consume our doubts and show us how to dwell in the soul-sustaining and awe-inspiring goodness of Your love. Even if the garden of our heart seems barren, Lord, we know You are life and You are good and we truly live in You. Teach us Lord, how to worship – even when in mourning – with awe and trust that transcends language – for You are great and worthy of far more than we could ever utter. (Rianca)

Lord, thank You that we can come today and ask You to stretch our capacity. It’s not easy to function out of our comfort zones – Lord, it’s really a stretch for us. But I ask for willing hearts; I ask for new mindsets and I ask for renewed thoughts. Lord, thank You that You would increase our capacity in such a time as this. Lord, we know that we are supposed to be the leaders and not the followers in this season. We are the Apostles Lord, we need to be the pioneers. For that to happen we need some stretching in our capacity to take place. I ask that You make us see with new eyes. Please Lord open our hearts for what You are about to do and let us welcome that. Stretch us anew, so that we will be Your hands and feet – which is what the world needs so desperately in this time. (Leandi)

Father, thank You that we have the opportunity to pray together as believers. We are bringing our hearts and our lives before You in this time – knowing that whatever You have set before us in grace is what we will receive in grace. Father, we know we don’t need to add any striving or forcefulness to Your leading. Whatever we put there with force, we will have to keep there with force. Father, whatever You bless and give to us through grace, will be kept there by grace. Father, we pray for a fresh infilling, the fire of Your Holy Spirit in and through our lives. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. (Anthony and Barbara-Mari)

Amen.

(This WRAP is with great appreciation towards Leandi, Boipelo, Anthony and Barbara-Mari, Philomena and Rianca)

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