Moving Forward in Faith
PRAYERS for 2021 FELLOWSHIP DAY
Holiness in the Ordinary
Prepared by the Australian Capital Territory ACW Unit
16 July 2021
Romans 12:1–2
(NRSV)
PRAYER
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Pray the words of the following Hymn by Frances Ridley Havergal:
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
AMEN
Words are in the Public Domain
17 July 2021
Romans 12:3
(NRSV)
PRAYER
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for grace. Your grace is endless, and I understand that I often don’t deserve what I receive from you. Your grace has saved me, and lifted me over and over again. Without your help I can do nothing alone. Your grace makes me feel so grateful and loving, not only for you Lord but for all your people that I am privileged to meet from day to day. Let everything I do give you glory, honour and praise.
AMEN
18 July 2021
Romans 12:4–5
(NRSV)
PRAYER
For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.
We praise and thank you God for the diversity of gifts and graces within the body of Christ and the beautiful variety and variance of the characters, personalities, peoples, interests and activities that are represented throughout the whole Church of God.
Thank you Jesus, that in the body of Christ we all belong. We all have a place and a purpose in that body. If we feel unsure about what our function is, we pray that you will reveal it to us so that we might serve with meaning and with Joy.
May all who call you Lord, be of one mind and united in spirit and humble in heart, having the same love, and working together with one intent, united in purpose.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN
19 July 2021
Romans 12:8a
(NLT)
PRAYER
Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)
If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.
As we pray, let us give thanks for:
Peacemakers, comforters, healers, relief workers, the generosity of ordinary people, and for selfless love wherever it is shown. Lord bring a blessing to their lives.
AMEN
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today”, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
20 July 2021
Romans 12:9–10
(NRSV)
PRAYER
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour.
Thank you, God, that you are loving and always gracious with us. Thank you that your love is perfect, it never fails, and that nothing can separate us from your love.
We pray that our lives would be filled and overflowing with the power of your love so we can make a difference in this world and bring honour to you. We ask for your help in reminding us that the most important things are not what we do outwardly, it is not based on any talent or gift, but the most significant thing we can do in this life is simply to love you and to choose to love others.
Help us to love as you love. In the name of Jesus, we pray.
AMEN
Image by ©Sharon Tate Soberon CC BY-ND 2.0
21 July 2021
Romans 12:11
(NRSV)
PRAYER
Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Praise be to you, Father God, for the grace you show to us. God, you have given us many gifts, and in your grace and love we can use these gifts for your glory and to guide others to your family.
Gifts of serving, preaching, and teaching are all ours through your grace. Your gifts extend to us being encouraged to stimulate the faith of others, and worship and serve alongside each other.
We pray for Australian Church Women across this land and help us with grace to serve each other with love, joy and peace. We pray for our National Executive and the tasks with which they are entrusted. We pray for our ACW Units across this land.
You have moulded us together in love, worship, and fellowship by your grace. We remain in your grace today as we worship together, though apart, across this country of Australia. May our work and worship be worthy of this grace. AMEN
22 July 2021
Romans 12:12
(NRSV)
PRAYER
Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.
Dear God, we thank you for the hope we have in you. Hope for this life and the next. May our hope cause us to live with great joy. Strengthen our hope we pray.
To be patient in suffering is easier said than done. Help us to know and trust that you are always in control. Your timing is perfect. You do not make mistakes. You are on our side. Help us rest in you in all circumstances.
We thank you God that you want us to spend time with you in prayer. You are interested in all aspects of our lives. You are interested in our activities, our friends, our failures, our successes. May our time spent with you in prayer empower us through our days.
Make us people of Hope, people who practice patience, people of prayer. For Jesus’ sake.
AMEN
23 July 2021
Romans 12:13
(NRSV)
PRAYER
Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Lord, as we think of those who serve You faithfully, we pray that You will equip them and prompt Your followers to be generous and compassionate in helping to meet their needs.
Help us to be hospitable – not just to those we know but also to strangers. From the simplest of things, such as providing a cup of tea and a warm smile for those who are lonely, to showing compassion to those in distress. May we always reflect Your holiness in what we say and do.
Be with us and those we serve. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)
24 July 2021
Romans 12:
14–20 (NRSV)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads”.
PRAYER
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
AMEN
Prayer is attributed to St Francis of Assisi
Words are in the Public Domain
25 July 2021
Romans 12:21
(NRSV)
PRAYER
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Lord God, You are Holy. You call us to be Holy in thought word and deed. Touch our ordinary lives and make us extraordinary for You so that the world we live and breathe in, the people we meet and mingle with every day, will become what You intended. Help us keep our eyes fixed on You, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In Jesus’ name, we pray.
AMEN
26 July 2021
Romans 15:5–7 (ESV)
PRAYER
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God.
Dear God, You have made us all different, each with a part to play in Your Kingdom. In a world of competing views and values, help us to listen to each other, to respect and encourage each other. May we live our lives in harmony with each other, in accord with the will of Christ Jesus for us. May we meld our hearts and voices so that we will be as a choir praising and glorifying God. AMEN
27 July 2021
Romans 15:13
(NIV)
PRAYER
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, we hope for so many things: peace, safety, contentment. Help us to place our trust and hope firmly in you, knowing that we can depend completely on you. Your love for us will never fail.
As we trust and wait on you may our understanding of you and your will for us increase. May the Holy Spirit work through us in our everyday lives bringing blessing and encouragement to ourselves and others.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
ISAIAH 40:31
(NIV)
28 July 2021
Hebrews
12:14–15 (NIV)
PRAYER
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Dear Lord, help us to be peacemakers and to live a life that encourages others to live in harmony with those around them, and to always seek peaceful solutions to problems. May we strive to always still the waters that rock the vessels of discontent.
We ask that You lead us and guide us into living a holy life that pleases and blesses You. A life that continues to transform us into the people You desire us to be.
These things we pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
‘To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, and to devote the will to the purpose of God.’
Archbishop William Temple (1881–1944)
29 July 2021
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
PRAYER
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.
Our prayer today is for those who are suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic. We pray for countries where there are no more hospital facilities to help them in their recovery. We pray for families and friends of those who are dying.
We thank you, O God, that you have provided comfort and encouragement to those who are struggling, especially as it is to ourselves that you ask that help and encouragement be shown.
Bless frontline workers in hospitals, vaccination centres, and the politicians who have to make strong decisions which affect this nation. Bless our children who are being denied the opportunity to finish their schooling this year.
Give us the strength to keep our lives in your care during this troubled time. AMEN
