The Prayer of Encouragement for 14 March
Deacon Arlene Burton offers the Prayer of Encouragement for 14 March 2021 for our country, businesses, frontline and other workers. Deacon Burton owns the copyright to this post. We reprint here with her permission.
My Brothers, Sisters and Friends, we are hoping that you are well but if not, please let us know. Also, just a reminder that if you or anyone you know is in need of prayer, please let us know. You can post your prayer request to our website
I thank God for His faithfulness knowing that when I am faithless He remains faithful. He personifies faithfulness so denying it would be denying Himself. I thank God for His promises on my life and all that He has bestowed on me. I am so grateful. Thank You, Lord. I stand on His promises knowing that He will never leave me, nor forsake me, that if I get lost on life’s journey He will set the light to my path and guide me because He is my Shepherd; that He will provide for me; and that when I become broken, He restores my body, mind, spirit, and life. I pray that He gives me the strength, energy and peace that I need to wait on Him, knowing that His timing is perfect, for, in all things, He must be glorified. Hallelujah! Amen!
I pray that you will not lose your trust in God knowing that He is with you all the way, no matter the surface of the road you trod. I pray that when you get tired, He gives you strength; when hope wants to slip from you, He gives you assurance; when confusion sets in, He gives you peace, not as the world does. May He be the lamp at your feet and the light to your path. May His favour be upon you. Amen!
Brethren and Friends, I am of the view that God sets daily paths for us. We may see and acknowledge them or become busy with our own plans and desires, moving along our own path. Interestingly, we may pray to God and ask for guidance, among other things, but end up fitting Him into our plans, like fitting someone into a tight suit. Our plans have time and other things in it but leave no space for Him to say or do anything. Yet, we pray for Him to do something, to have His own way in our situations but our eyes become dull and we lose vision because our minds also become cloudy. Do you think God can be contained? The thing is, we do not have the capacity to fathom the power of God. His majestic greatness is beyond our ability to truly conceive or comprehend. He does whatever He wants whenever He wants but He also gives humankind choices.
As I continue to reflect on the passages that the Lord gave me on the hill walk, I am still amazed by the way He used the lepers. I am thinking that God placed those men on imputed seats of prominence; to bring good news to the poor; to declare the Lord’s favour and to bring hope to a nation that was experiencing a serious case of famine; all for His glory. You know, sometimes on the journey we may get tired, become despondent and frustrated so we stop, take ourselves completely away, or just run away as in the case of the prophet Elijah (1 King 19). I have been on many tiring and hard journeys on life’s path and like Elijah, many times I want to run away. Yes, you heard me correctly.
You know, on the Saturday morning when I saw the Bibles at the little dump heap, I only saw them after stretching myself to walk a little further, not knowing where that would take me. It was about a quarter of a mile from the point where I would end my walk. Guess what? It was a dead end. Oh My God! Wow!
There were two Bibles but one was opened and the pages were stuck due to dust, wind and rain but the ending and beginning of four chapters were captured; 2 Kings 7 and 8; and 10 and 11. Apparently, a page was missing but the Lord took my attention to the chapters leading on to chapter 7, the missing page and the completion of what has been accounted for in chapter 11. Also, I had just completed some writings on Elijah (1 King) and posted it on the Friday morning. I had been writing about Elijah’s ministry and how Elisha came into the picture. The passages that I found took me into Elisha’s ministry. Lord, You are beyond amazing. God, You are Awesome! Hallelujah!
You know, I promised myself that every hill walk would be different. So I would use weights (stones) as resistance; walk on the short wall blocks (for mind strength and balance) and other techniques but not a further distance. I have even changed my route. I walked from home to the foot of the hill, then took the hill. I noticed that 95 per cent of the people who walk, drive to the foot of the hill, then walk it up and back. You would think that the Lord God of compassion does not think that my walk was enough. Oh no!
I kept turning back at a critical point. It was just a little way to go, and He had something in store but in my limited capacity, I lacked vision. Yet, He had set the path. He knew the end from the beginning. At times, we even do things differently but not what pleases God. How many of us make premature stops? How many of us take the wrong path, convincing ourselves that we are doing things differently and it is the right path? Let me see that hand! The harsh reality is that we miss out big time.
Take me back to the lepers’ experience. The passage of scripture tells us “Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, ‘Why stay here until we die? If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’ — the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.” (2 Kings 7:3-4, NIV). They reasoned among themselves as to the path to take, not knowing what was ahead.
The lepers prepared themselves to take the risk knowing that the worst case is that they could die. Yet, God had set the path. “For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army, …! So they got up and fled in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives.” (2 Kings 7: 6-7, NIV).
Then the lepers were about to discover things beyond what they could ask or imagine. “The men who had leprosy reached the edge of the camp, entered one of the tents and ate and drank. Then they took silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also.” (2 Kings 7:8, NIV). God, You made the way!
Brethren and Friends, I am not sure what is happening with you. Neither do I know the plan of God for your life. Yet, I stand to encourage you. Whatever situation you are facing at this time, know that God has not changed and He remains faithful. However, it is your decision to determine whether or not you diligently seek Him. What say you?
As you meditate, let us pray.
Almighty God, I stand in awe, in awe of You. You are Awesome in all of your ways. I cannot understand your infinite greatness. It is too lofty for me to fathom. I thank You that you see me when others would have rejected me, sidelined me, treated me like an outcast; mocked me, and thrown abusive slurs at my life; claiming to be my friend but never accepting me in their hearts. I thank You that You are near me, that You are with me, and regardless of where I go, You know. Lord, I am grateful.
Lord, we thank You for the air we breathe, for waking us up in our right minds. We thank You, Lord, for sustaining us as individuals, families, communities, Churches and associations, businesses and government and as nations. Lord, we are grateful for your love, mercies and grace. Thank You, Lord.
Most Righteous Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we stand in the gap asking that as individuals, families, communities, Churches and associations, businesses and government; and as nations; You have mercy on us, forgive all of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Lord, create in us clean hearts and renew the right spirit in us. Cast us not away from your presence, but deliver and restore us. Restore us, O Lord.
God of love and compassion, we ask that You grant strength, peace, wisdom, revelations, discerning power to our leaders of every sphere of life especially those who are called to do your exploits. Lord, cause it that we diligently seek your face, listen to your prompting and act in accordance with your will. Cover and protect us from all dangers and harm, and deliver us from Covid-19 Virus and diseases of all kinds.
Lord, cause your face to shine on us and make us the light that will lead in the dark world. Cause it that our enemies chase away from us instead of chasing us; as You grant us peace and instil hope. Lord, we ask for your continued provision and deliberate presence as we surrender all to You. This is our choice. We give You thanks in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Lord, we pray 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.
God of grace, we present to You those among us who are on the usual sick and shut-in list, as well as Sisters Iris Lawrence, Merle Braham, Valerie Smellie, Lelith James, Jennifer Nicholson, Virginia Muir, Marville (Cherry) Murray (Sister Iris Lawrence’s daughter), Janet Chen-Young, Joyce Bailey, Lucille Alexander, Jhada Graham, Ethlyn Atkin’s family (son Dwight and others), Cherrie Lee, Brother George Gabbidon, Brother Lloyd Trusty, Mr Alan Ashley (Sister Dawn Ashley’s father), Brother Danville Japp’s father, Mr Isaiah Japp, Mr, Delorn Dixon (Sister Rachael Dixon’s husband), Mr Lyn Cook (Sister Marcia’s husband) and any member or family member who is currently struggling with the Covid-19 virus. We pray for healing, comfort and restoration in Jesus’ name, we say thanks.
Amen.
Our Prayers of Encouragement are for everyone. Therefore, if you are also in need of prayer or comfort, please contact us with your request. We would be so very happy to share with you.
