Nov 30 – This week Denise Gore has set the theme and written the first two days prayers. We will be praying into the theme of, ‘Seeking God’s forgiveness with a broken spirit and a contrite heart’ (Psalm 51)
Psalm 51 as a whole explains what it means to have a broken spirit and a contrite heart, and shows us that it is much more than making a mistake and saying sorry.
According to the International Bible Encyclopedia, “A contrite heart is one in which the natural pride and self-sufficiency have been completely humbled by the consciousness of guilt.” The Hebrew and Greek words often translated “contrite” actually mean “crushed, damaged, or broken.”
Psalm 51:17, ‘My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, You, God, will not despise.’
Father, help us to truly grasp what it is to come humbly before You in repentance with a broken spirit and a contrite heart. Thank You that as we do so, we are assured of Your forgiveness in and through Christ, and we don’t have to carry the weight of sin, or feelings of guilt and shame.
Thank You that David gives us the example of taking full responsibility for our sins, and understanding the impact on others, but most of all, Jesus, we know that sin grieves You. Thank You, Lord Jesus, You renew a steadfast spirit within us and give us a clean heart when we humble ourselves before You asking for forgiveness, and trusting in Your mercy and grace. Help us to remain in submission to You, recognising our dependence on You for all that we have and are. Amen.
Dec 1 – In a sense David anticipated one of the great promises to all who will believe under the New Covenant. Some 400 years after David, the prophet Ezekiel could point to the Messiah’s future impact: ‘And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart’ (Ezekiel 36:26).
We can harden our hearts in many ways, including by not seeking forgiveness ourselves – nor offering forgiveness to those who have wronged us. We can turn away from God when we have sinned instead of seeking His forgiveness in Christ; we cannot fulfil His purposes unless we are walking in the freedom His forgiveness brings.
Father, thank You for the cross of Jesus, and His shed blood that opened a door to reconciliation enabling us to come boldly before Your throne of grace. As we do so we come with a broken spirit and a contrite heart. Because of our faith in Jesus and living relationship with Him – You blot out our transgressions, our sins, our deliberate refusal to follow Christ wholeheartedly.
We know that we can’t fulfil Your purposes in and through us if we are not walking in Christ in the freedom He leads us into. Search us, Lord, and help us to be a living sacrifice, fully submitted to Your Spirit’s leading and guidance. Thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit; help us in Telford Elim, in person and online, to live lives that are pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Dec 2 – Psalm 139:23-24, ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.’
The Psalmist invites God to search him – a deep search right to the depths of his soul. This is a humble and contrite invitation. He is not inviting God because he thinks there is nothing to find; at the very least, he knows that God will find anxious thoughts.
He doesn’t hide from what he knows God will find. However, he also recognises that there may be things in his heart that are offensive to God. So, he asks that God would point these things out to him so he can work on correcting them. He also knows that these things, although offensive to God’s nature – do not disqualify him from God’s grace and loving Fatherhood. God is not going to disown his child; their relationship is secure because God is securely committed, by covenant, love and faith, to his son, David.
Father, these verses give us great hope. You are committed to us in Christ more so than we are to You. We are united by the Spirit, and our faith, to Christ and Your covenant with us in Him. There are times that our faith seems so small and insignificant, but You still accept us in the Lord Jesus. David trusted You that if You searched his inner man – You wouldn’t destroy him, but work in his life for his good and Your glory. He chose the pathway of transparency and openness.
I trust You, Lord and choose that pathway also. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting live. In Jesus’ name and for His glory. Amen
Dec 3 – One of the great challenges of ‘seeking God’s forgiveness with a broken spirit and a contrite heart’ – is the level of honesty and transparency it requires. So often our mistakes, failures and sins make us do the exact opposite – hide from God. Adam and Even are the ultimate examples of this; they sinned, ate that which God had forbidden, and became afraid of meeting God in their nakedness.
Father, I confess that many times I have felt unworthy, naked or too unclean to meet with You. I confess I am afraid to pray the prayer from yesterday (Psalm 139:23-24) about searching my heart, for I know some of the issues You will find. However, I know it is right to ask You to do so – You are my Father who knows everything about me, including the bits I would prefer were not there. So I humble myself before You and ask You to search me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out to me the first thing You want me to change, and grant me the grace and strength to do so.
I confess I have sinned in thought, word and deed, forgive and cleanse me. I plead the merits of the blood of Jesus over my life – I stand in the strong light of Your truth, and yield my soul to Your Lordship. I pray that all who pray with us, in person or online, will be led to a new level of honesty and transparency before You. Heal the pain and replace it with Your life giving water of the Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Dec 4 –Revelation 5:8, ‘And when He took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.’ 8:3-4, ‘Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. 4The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.’
Father, these remarkable verses point to the closing of the Age and the consummation as judgement is about to begin. The incense rising with the prayers to You is a wonderful picture of You accepting our prayers through the Lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ. This week, as we are humbling ourselves with a contrite heart, acknowledging our sin, and confessing it onto You, through Christ – hear, acknowledge us, forgive our sin, and sanctify or set us apart for Your worship and service. Thank You, Lord, for Your forgiveness, cleansing and anointing.
There is a sense that all our prayers join together as we pray along with all Your people across the world and through the years. As our prayers, prayed in faith, according to Your will and in Jesus’ name, ascend – they are perfected and become effective leading to amazing answers.
Lord, vindicate Your Son’s glorious name here in and through Telford Elim, its people and ministries – whether in person or online. Pour out great conviction on many thousands of people as we live, work and minister; may they be brought face to face with Your reality, offer of salvation in Christ, and command to repent and believe in Jesus to the saving of their souls. Amen
Dec 5 – In 2 Chronicles 23:1, it says that Jehoiada, a good ‘priest decided to act. He summoned his courage…’ and acted. Father, these words are a great challenge and a great encouragement. As we read Your word, walk with Your Spirit, fellowship with each other, worship, give, serve and witness – we receive guidance and direction, Your heavenly anointing and favour, and overflowing presence of Your Spirit. We ask that Your presence will transform our ministry into a much more effective and powerful tool in Your Spirit’s hand.
Lord, revive our church, reform Your Church in the UK, and renew our nation in Christ. We declare that His grace, love and saving power will flow to every street, neighbourhood, community and region throughout our nation. May Christ be glorified as multitudes are saved and then discipled by Your Church; and may Telford Elim play a big part in this ministry. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Dec 6 – Father, on this second Sunday in Advent when we as a church continue to prepare our hearts ready for the Second Coming of Your glorious Son – we declare these living words:
Revelation 1:4-8, ‘Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before His throne; 5and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to Christ who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us. 6He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God His Father. All glory and power to Christ forever and ever! Amen. 7Look! Christ comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for Him. Yes! Amen! 8“I [the Lord Jesus] am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”’
Lord Jesus, You are God the Son. We pray that we will be a light leading many to prepare for Your glorious coming. Grant us the favour and anointing needed so that many are saved, discipled and prepared. Bless all our services, in person and online, during this season turning it into a wonderful season of sowing and harvest as the reaper overtakes the sower. In Jesus’ name. Amen
