Too Often

Praying together and out loud, we pray:

Gracious God, we come before you, unworthy of your grace, unworthy of your love and unworthy of you. Have mercy on us, O Lord.

Today, we come in confession that too often we have chosen the fruit over the garden; too often we have bowed down to the golden calf; too often we have begged for a sign; too often we have declared Caesar to be Lord; too often we have demanded to see the wounds in your hands; too often we have substituted our image of you, for you. Too often we have neglected your call to be salt and light; too often we have reduced our relationship with you to a moral code; too often we have forgotten Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection; too often we have acted on sight and not on faith.

Lord, have mercy. Heal us now. Open our eyes. Empower our lives. Fill our hearts with your eternal love.

In the matchless Name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Dr. Lance D. Watson, Senior Pastor

Saint Paul's Baptist Church

Richmond, Virginia 23223

"A Church for People On the Grow"

www.myspbc.org

PRAYER QUOTE

"The battle of prayer is against two things in the earthlies: wandering thoughts, and lack of intimacy with God's character as revealed in His word. Neither can be cured at once, but they can be cured by discipline."

Oswald Chambers

A Waiting Matter

"In the morning, O Lord, hear my voice. In the morning, I lay my needs in front of you, and I wait." Psalm 5:3

Orchestrator of the Universe help me this morning and every morning that you grant me life, to come to you in the quiet of dawn's early light, before caffein, rush hour, the opening bell, the punched clock, while there is a hush all over the house. I come before you to hear Your voice telling me which way to go before I take on too much of the day or before the day takes me on.

I present myself, my soul and body as a reasonable sacrifice. I bring you praise and thanksgiving before I lay my needs before you. I bring the possibilities of the day and ask you to use it for your glory. I bring whatever patience I can gather to wait, wait to hear your voice in every matter. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Bless Others!

"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Matthew 6:6

Great God, we come to you today to intercede for those who may need help in difficult times. We pray for those who quietly grieve for a loved one no longer in their lives. Give their heart, mind and soul a comfort that eases the pain yet does not erase the memories of good times. We pray for families in trouble, parents in conflict with their children; marriages gone sour, friendship fractured, careers chaotic, communities in crises and persons in physical or mental pain.

We bring these requests to you because you promised if we touch and agree you would honor our prayers. Help us today to take the time to go into our room, shut the door and pray. Thank you advance for being a prayer hearing and answering God! In Jesus Name, Amen.

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PRAYER REQUESTS

If you have an original or special prayer to share with Praycation, please send it via email. Also if you want to share your experiences of the discipline of prayer and the study of the word of God, send it via email at praycation2@gmail.com. Remember to subscribe and share this site with others!

Thank You Momma!

Dear God,

Thank you for the women who knew us before we took our first breath and loved us more than life.

Thank you for the women who were both friend and confidante.

Thank you for the women who told us the truth even when the liberating truth hurt beyond words.

Thank you for the women who protected us when we needed protection and those who pushed us when that was needed as well.

Thank you for the women who knew just what to say to make us mad enough to get up and try again.

Thank you for the women who knew how to make us laugh, even at ourselves.

Thank you for the women who knew just what to say to help us to believe and believe again.

Thank you for the women who prayed for us and taught us how to pray.

Thank you for the women who made us go to church until we wanted to go on our own.

Thank you for the women who saw our gifts and gave us opportunity to develop them.

Thank you for the women who knew when to say no and when to say yes unswayed by popular opinion.

Thank you for the women who loved us even when separated from us by war, conflict, addiction, depression or incarceration.

Thank you for the women who gave us life either by birth, blood or adoption.

If these women forsake us by death or neglect, thank you for the promise that you would take us up.

Thank you for these women, our mothers, those who are with us today and those who have gone on to be with You.

In Jesus name, it is with a grateful heart we pray today, Amen.

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* Photo by Lange, migrant mother.

Morning Joy!

O lord, our God, how excellent is your name in all the earth. Forgive us for coming too often with our petitions for our right now and tomorrow needs without proclaiming your great and mighty acts or thanking you for the joy of our salvation.

We rejoice this morning for your unfathomable amazing grace, unequaled peace and endless love. Help us to make known today all the marvelous things you have done in us and in the lives of those we know and love.

We pray for the victims of earthquakes and tsunamis; gang violence and acts of hate; victims of AIDS and other diseases; and those who live in the gap between what is promised and what is delivered. Giver of every good and perfect gift, help us to share with the hungry and marginalized; help us to bless those who can't bless us back.

In Jesus name, Amen
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PRAYCATION CONFERENCE CALL - THE SPRING EDITION

Join the Prycation conference call this thursday morning and every first Thursday of the month for Word, prayer and testimony. Just call at 6 AM CDT/ 7 AM EDT 1-218-936-2800, access code 812713.

'Tis So Sweet

Dear God,

The news is not good today. Everywhere we turn there is something else to cause anxiety or something to be afraid of. It could be another flood, tornado, tsunami, nuclear reactor, high gas prices or unemployment that weighs heavy upon our hearts.

Help us to stand on your word to trust in you and lean not to thin own understanding. O Lord, we put our trust in you.

In spite of today's news reports and the constant threat of danger, we seek you knowing we will find our strength and security in you. We can move forward today and rest peacefully tonight with the wonderful assurance that you' ve got our backs! Amen and Amen.

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PRAYER QUOTE

"In prayer, we are aware that God is in action and that when the circumstances are ready, when others are in the right place, and when our hearts are prepared, he will call us into the action. Waiting in prayer is a disciplined refusal to act before God acts."

Eugene Peterson

PRAYCATION CONFERENCE CALL TOMORROW!

Our monthly Praycation conference call will be every first Thursday of the month. Join us for prayer, study and testimony at 6 AM CDT/7 AM EDT. Just call 1-218-936-2800, access code 812713. Share with others!

In The Morning When I Rise!

Let's pray together:

Good Morning Father. Thank you for awakening me to brand new mercies. I can’t wait to see what you are up to today. You are awesome! I worship you!

You are my shelter and my safe place. You’re my peace in the midnight hours; my strength when I am frazzled, my wisdom when I don’t know what to do. You are my healer when doctors have no clue! There is no God like my God!

Teach me your ways, for your ways are above my ways. Your ways are righteous and just when I would seek to right, or strike back at a wrong. Your ways bless others when I can get preoccupied with myself.

Lord show me your path. Your path leads to hope, salvation, and peace. In Your presence is truly the fullness of joy!

Thank you for not dealing with me according to my transgressions—for I do sin and fall short of your glory! I miss the mark and overstep your boundaries. On my best days, you know I am prone to err. So create in me a clean heart. Start me all over again. Protect me from the works of the devil.

I praise you for victory in Christ! Prosper the work of my hands that you may receive glory and your people are built up.

I ask all these things in the marvelous, matchless name of Jesus, my savior, Amen!

(Inspired by Psalm 25:4-7)

Rev. Dr. Rosalind P. Denson

Associate Pastor, West Side Missionary Baptist Church, St Louis, Missouri

http://afruitfullife.blogspot.com

PRAYCATION CONFERENCE CALL

It's official. The powerful Praycation Lent 2011 conference call over the past few months has been transitioned into a monthly encounter. Every First Thursday, join us at 6 AM CDT/ 7 AM EDT at 1-218-936-2800, access code 812713 for a powerful morning of prayer, study and testimony. It will only take a few potent minuets to start the day. Look to hear from you on this first Thursday morning!!