Every Day Faith – Praying for many lives to be transformed by the gospel this Easter
Here’s how we’re praying in March. You can still contact our order desk at 905-542-7400 ext. 3223 or via email at orderdesk@paoc.org to get new prayer cards, general brochures and promotional postcards for your ministry context (just shipping charges apply). We also continue to encourage regular visits to www.everydayfaith.ca for encouragement in the disciplines of Bible reading, prayer, generosity and sharing our faith in word and deed.
March 2017 (Theological Vitality)
For many lives to be transformed by the gospel this Easter
- That God will open up many opportunities for Christians to share the gospel and the significance of Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and that many hearts will receive the Lord for the first time.
- That the true significance of Christ’s life, death and resurrection will be deepened in the hearts of those with lukewarm or wavering faith.
- That God will prepare our faith communities to receive and engage all who are seeking a sense of belonging and hope for themselves and their loved ones.
- That truth will be communicated with grace and love to those seeking practical and biblical wisdom for their personal circumstances.
PASSAGES TO PONDER:
Ephesians 1:18-20
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.
Ezekiel 34:11-16
For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
1 Peter 5:1-4
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Ecclesiastes 4:8-12
There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business!
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Galatians 6:1, 2
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Next month's prayer focus: For intergenerational understanding, appreciation and faith-building (http://everydayfaith.ca/?page_id=1487).
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