December 9

Prayer:[1]

Help us God to be ready for the coming of your kingdom, help us to live each day according to your word to seek justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with you.

Help us each day to confess our weakness, to reach out to those around us who are in need, to forgive others as you forgive us, to serve others as Christ has served us.

Help us each day to first praise you and thank you for your goodness, and to first ask what it is you want us to do, and help us then to do it.

We thank you God for your promise of a world of peace, for your promise that Christ will reign and that he will judge favourably for those who are poor and those who oppressed, that he will smile upon those who are in need, and lift up those who are cast down.

Make us instruments of his grace and his power even now, before his kingdom comes in its fullness. Make us people who seek to bring your blessings of food and clothing - of shelter and warmth, of care and of compassion, of justice and of mercy to those who require it.

Thank you Lord for your many gifts. Help us accept them and help us share them with others. We ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen

Scripture:

Isaiah 41:14-20, Romans 15:14-21

“An Awareness of the Need”

God cares deeply for the poor and needy in our community, for the underprivileged and the marginalized . When He establishes everlasting peace all over the world, He promises to make all things well and never to forsake them. (Isaiah 41:17-19) Although the universal peace of God is not yet a reality, His heavenly kingdom has already broken in on earth with the good news Jesus proclaims. In Romans 15:20, the apostle Paul makes it his ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known. God is deeply aware of our need for His salvation so He gave His son. Paul is keenly aware that the vast number of Gentiles have not yet heard the gospel. Who are those in and even beyond our community whose needs we are called to be aware of? How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! — Isaiah 52:7 NLT

Application: Prayer Walk In hundreds of cities around the world, God is helping Christians to pray as they pass through the streets of their communities.

As you prayer-walk, your prayers extend beyond your own concerns, focusing directly on the needs of others and opening yourself to see them with God’s eyes and heart.[2]

Be intentional as you engage in prayer walk today. While it does not have to be a long walk, pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit before you begin and be attentive to the things to pray for in your community. You can prayer-walk alone in your heart or audibly with a partner- many find that their prayers are more focused when expressed with a friend.

[1] Richard J. Fairchild, "Sermon and Liturgy for Advent 2 - Year A," Sermons and Sermon- Lectionary Resources, http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/a-ad02sm.php (Accessed on Nov 21, 2013.)
[2] Adapted from “How to Prayerwalk,” http://waymakers.org/pray/prayerwalking/how-to/ (Accessed Nov 21, 2013)