Thy Kingdom Come Prayer Journal
Day 9 - Encourages
Reflection
‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you
with my righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
Our world today is increasingly taxing on
the emotions and wellbeing of everyone.
We are caught in the seemingly never[1]ending treadmill of life and many demands
on our attention. It is hard not to become
disheartened when we read about the
struggles of so many around the world.
We are burdened by the stories of those
who fight for their existence and basic
God-given rights and freedoms. When we
add the struggles faced by so many now
in the United Kingdom and beyond, in
the ongoing economic crisis and political
instability, we are often disheartened.
Yet struggles are nothing new for humanity
– darkness, tribulation, and conflict have
existed since the early chapters of Genesis,
when one brother killed the other.
Anxiety is high, especially in light of those
who like to remind us that the end is near.
Yet we know from Scripture that no one,
except the Father, knows when the end
will come. Focusing on the unknown
only increases our worries and concerns,
and distracts us from the abundant life
promised to us all by our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Isaiah 41:10 we are encouraged not
to fear, as God is with us to support and
accompany us through life’s hardships.
We are encouraged not to fear as God says
to us 'for I am with you; be not dismayed,
for I am your God. I will strengthen you.
Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with
my righteous right hand.' When we think
about what that means in practical terms,
to have God 'on our side,' it automatically
shifts our focus away from our problems,
and towards the joy of partnership and
friendship with an almighty, all-knowing,
and all-loving God and Father.
Pause and pray
Pray for your five people that
they will know the peace and
presence of Christ in their
lives.
"Living The Kingdom" Action
As we pray for the likeness
of Christ to be formed
in us, why not look for
opportunities to follow
St Barnabas’ example- to
be “Sons and daughters of
encouragement” - in your
engagement with other
people?
When the world leads us to fear, God encourages us to
rejoice. When our newsfeeds lead us to lose hope, our
Lord encourages us to trust and hope in Him, the One
who has overcome the world.
I pray that, as Christians who are called to be the salt
and light in the world, we remember that the world
needs the love and light of Christ. I pray that we know
ourselves to be the sons and daughters of God, sent to be
His ambassadors in a world that desperately needs to be
reconciled to Him. Let us shift our focus away from the
storm and waves that threaten to overwhelm our lives, and
look to Him, our hope and our salvation.