In our current ministry year (September 2020-August 2021), we believe the Lord is calling us to make progress in four specific areas as His people. 

• Praying in Total Dependence
• Equipping the Saints
• Growing into Maturity
• Walking in Love Together

We cast vision in August and September to these areas in a message series called ‘Reset.’  You can listen to those here. 

As we continue to walk by faith in this year, below is a prayer I have for the first aspect of this vision. 

Praying in Total Dependence

Lord, you are so good, powerful and trustworthy.  You are beyond time and space.  You’re not contained in anyway.  You spoke the world into existence with your word and you created us in your image and likeness. 

And in our divine design, as you knit and formed us, you have designed us to live in dependence.  Not independence, but dependence.  Not apart from you, but joined to you.  Not abiding in created things, but abiding in you as our life-giving, life-eternal branch. 

We confess that we are prone to lean on our own understanding.  To naively think that we can solely rely upon our own fading strength and finite wisdom.  We confess that we have sometimes viewed prayer as a discipline to pursue only when we find ourselves in a bind.  We confess that we have not always seen it as a life-giving thread that should tie together our days and weave throughout our hours. 

Thank you for your patience toward us, Lord.  Thank you for your grace.  You’re continually growing and forming us, and we’re so thankful that you are faithful to finish what you have begun. 

Like the early disciples, we ask that you teach us to pray.  We are your disciples and we desire to learn and grow.  Enable us by your Spirit’s power to make progress in this area. 

Remind us that you are our Father in Heaven.  We kneel together before you as your sons and daughters.  You have united us, and we confess our shared dependence upon and worship of you as your people. 

You are holy, and by grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone, we have been adopted and brought near.  We can approach your throne of grace, knowing that when we do, we are met with mercy. 

We pray that your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.  As we seek first your kingdom and righteousness, we trust that you will meet our needs. 

Forgive us of our sin, and remind us that the atoning work of Christ on the cross was enough, once and for all.  We’ve been washed and cleansed in Christ. 

Teach us to be quick to forgive, for you have first forgiven us.  Lead us away from the various temptations that are lurking in our lives.  Keep the prowling lion at bay, and remind us of the victory we have in our resurrected Lord and Savior. 

Lord, we need you in every way and in each of our days.    

We depend upon you in all ways and in all times.

We pray in expectation and we remain watchful for how you will be at work in our own hearts and lives.

You are able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think.  Lift our chins and give us a right and biblical view of your greatness, goodness and glory.  May our view of you, move our hearts and spirits to a prayerful posture.

We pray that in the coming months, we might see visible and tangible answers to our prayers, including how you sanctify our own hearts in the process.  May it be for your glory alone, throughout the church and all generations.  May it move us to an ever increasing devotion to you. 

In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen!