The Prayer of Encouragement for 12 December
Deacon Arlene Burton offers the Prayer of Encouragement for 12 December 2021 for our country, businesses, frontline and other workers. Deacon Burton owns the copyright to this post. We reprint here with her permission.
Hi Everyone, God’s blessing! May our Father and Lord be our guide in this life as we try to navigate our way through. Just a reminder that if you or anyone you know needs prayer, please let us know. You can post your prayer request here on our website.
In the last post, I spoke of an experience that I encountered while driving. It involved a young man of apparent unsound mind stripping himself naked in an unexpected manner and place. I am still finding myself in that mode of reflection and the passage of scripture that emerged in my thoughts has to do with David taking off some of his clothes and dancing. The predominant thought that came to me is that we have to be able to distinguish between insanity and worship.
First of all, let us hear what happened in the case of David.
What happened?
David was Grateful for God’s Blessings – “Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.” 2 Samuel 6:12, NIV).
Uncensored Praise; Unexpected Dressing – “Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” (2 Samuel 6:14-15, NIV).
Despised – “As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.” (2 Samuel 6:16, NIV).
The Confrontation -half-naked and vulgar – “When David returned home to bless his household, Michal, daughter of Saul, came out to meet him and said, ‘How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!’” (2 Samuel 6:20, NIV).
The Rebuttal and Affirmation – “David said to Michal, ‘It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honour.’” (2 Samuel 6:21-22, NIV).
You know, many people would have been taken out of church or covered up to protect the profile of the church or their own profile. I could hear the sayings. Oh my God! What did you say happened? You tell me so and so from such a place did what? Am I hearing correctly? Did he receive any training? He needs to be tutored on how to conduct himself. Wow! Are you kidding me? I cannot believe it. Sus, gossip…
I believe that David did what I would call uncensored and unedited worship that came from the place that attracted and connected him to God, his heart. It was not a performance. It was a heart lifted in glory to God, a demonstration of gratefulness to God.
The question lingering in my mind has to do with whether or not such worship is restricted to just praise or the way we live our lives, our attitudes, our behaviours/responses to the purpose and will of God for our lives. Are we willing to remove our inhibitions and step out of our comfort zone to be used by God? Let there be no misunderstanding. I am not asking anybody to go out and get physically naked. There are some things that we need to let go of so that other things can be put on for God’s power to move in and through our lives. We could start with self-desires and self-will. Think bout it, chat bout it. What are you going to do about it?
Let us pray:
Let us shout for joy to the Lord of the earth. We worship the Lord with gladness and come before Him with joyful songs. We acknowledge that the Lord is God. It is He who made us and we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. We enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, we give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100). Hallelujah!
Great, Holy and Righteous Father, we thank You for this another day, We magnify and glorify Your name. You alone are worthy of glory, honour and praise. We extol Your name on high. Lord, You are awesome! Hallelujah! Our souls bless Your Holy name. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, You are worthy to be praised. Hallelujah! We thank You for continued provision, protection and peace. We thank You for Your mercy and grace, Your goodness and kindness towards us.
Lord, we come in the name of Jesus Christ as individuals, families, communities, Churches, government, political representatives and our country as a whole asking for Your mercy and forgiveness. Lord, we have done wrongly in Your sight. So forgive us and cause it that we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all forms of evil, and let not evil rule over us.
Lord, we ask that You take every parish, community, organization, institution, house, citizen and purge us of all unrighteousness. Take away hearts of stone and transform criminal minds to be obedient to Your will and way. Cause it that You are glorified. Lord, deliver and protect us from the plots of murder, abuse and wounding. Lord, expose and hold accountable with hard evidence every criminal action. Let God alone arise in our circumstances, in our country.
Lord, we lift up to You the leaders in our country. We pray especially for our church leaders, the Honourable Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness, Minister of Health and Wellness, Christopher Tufton, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Nigel Clarke, health workers and support staff, Minister of Education, Youth and the Environment, Fayval Williams; Minister of National Security, Horace Chang and his team, Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck, and the leader of the opposition Mark Golding and his team. We also remember the judges in our congregation, Paula Blake Powell and Grace Henry McKenzie. Lord, let not evil rule over us. Grant to our leaders the wisdom and courage to do what is in our best interest. Also, grant creativity and strategies that will help us to maneuver through these unusual times. Protect and continue to provide for us.
Lord, we remember those who are not well, especially Deacon Loy, Sisters Nicole Evans and Kadine Stewart. We also present to you those among us who are on the usual sick and shut-in list, as well as Sisters Iris Lawrence, Valerie Smellie, Mary Clarke, Cherrie Lee, Lelith James, Jennifer Nicholson, Virginia Muir, Marville (Cherry) Murray (Sister Iris Lawrence’s daughter), Janet Chen-Young, Joyce Bailey, Lucille Alexander, Jhada Graham, Cherrie Lee, Merlena Hartley Roberts (Sister Nicole Roberts Mother); Brother George Gabbidon, Brother Lloyd Trusty, Mr Alan Ashley (Sister Dawn Ashley’s father), Mr, Delorn Dixon (Sister Rachael Dixon’s husband), Brother Cornel Richards and family; and any member or family member who needs healing and comfort. So, Lord, grant healing, strength and peace.
Lord, we continue to keep in prayer Sister Jhanelle Black who has been pursuing further studies in Dentistry, in the United Kingdom.
Lord, we ask that You grant peace to the hearts and minds of those people who are mourning losses of different kinds, as well as those who are experiencing some form of discomfort. Help us to act with the realization that we are overcomers. Cause it that You will always be glorified in our lives.
In Jesus’ name we pray with thanksgiving.
Amen.
Our Prayers of Encouragement are for everyone. Therefore, please contact us with your request if you also need prayer or comfort. We would be so very happy to share with you.
Grace Missionary Church is a member of The Missionary Church Association in Jamaica.
