Prayer Letter - 14 February 2005

To: Prayer Partners
From: Pastor Lucenay

The celebration of Chinese New Year is barely over and Valentine’s Day has arrived. This is a good day to pray for God’s work in marriages. Paul wrote the Ephesians, husbands love your wives (Ephesians 5:25). John wrote, let us love one another (1 John 4:7). Love has so many challenging aspects. As we pray for God’s work in our marriages and in the marriages of the people we know, let us consider some of the biblical aspects of love. Pray for couples to Accept one another (Romans 15:7). One would think people united in marriage would find accepting one another easy. Not necessarily. People are different. Differences may entice at first. However, in time differences can cause friction. Pray that people will cherish the uniqueness of each other as they accept one another in Christ.

Love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4). Pray that couples will be patient with each other. I often find it amazing how people of two different temperaments, two different energy levels, and two different approaches to life find their way into marriage. Patience is a gift from God that is much needed. Love is kind (1 Corinthians 13:4). Pray that married people will be kind to one another. Pray for kindness in all things at all times. Pray for kindness in words and actions.

Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another (Colossians 3:13). People who live close to people need to be good forgivers. Because we are people we will make mistakes and mistakes can hurt those closest to us. Pray that people will forgive as Christ has forgiven them. Love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). We all have things we would like to forget, things we wish we had not done. Pray for the couples to choose not to keep records of the evil in the lives of their loved ones.

Love is not self- seeking (1 Corinthians 13:5). If Jesus Christ is number one in our lives and if we want to honor Him above all else, putting Jesus first in our relationships with our spouses will bring the character of Christ into our most tender relationships. And Jesus showed us how to think of others before we consider our desires. Pray for couples to be self-giving rather than self-seeking.

Love is not easily angered (1 Corinthians 13:5). Pressure, stress, and fear can so work within us that we are touchy and easily angered. Anger causes people to say and do things they should not say and do. Pray for God to cool the tempers of couples and help them act, rather than react to the irritating stimuli they face. Pray that people who are given to abuse, whether verbal or physical, will seek forgiveness for their behavior, change their ways and treat their partners with grace.

Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32). When marriage troubles come, kindness and compassion are often missing. Pray for couples to be kind to each other--kind in their attitudes, words and deeds. Pray for couples to get in touch with caring feelings for each other.

Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). A healthy marriage has people who value one another and find ways to encourage one another. Pray for couples to learn the art of giving encouragement to each other.

Trust God. My God will met all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Pray that couples will trust God with life’s challenges as they rely on God to carry them through life’s difficulties even as they celebrate God’s kindness in the good times. A wonderful prayer for couples to pray together each day is the Lord’s Prayer, Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13). Take a moment to consider the many ways this prayer touches a couple’s relationship.

This week let us pray for the following Church needs:

• God’s wisdom and guidance in Deacons’ Meeting and Church Conference
• God’s work through us in sharing our faith in Christ Jesus
• The movement of God’s Spirit in our Worship services
• Clear understanding of God’s message in Bible study, witnessing and worship
• Encouragement for our leaders, teachers and workers
• Openness to the claims of Christ in the lives of our guests and regular visitors
• God’s person to serve as kindergarten principal

Let us pray for the people who are experiencing illness. Let us pray for those who do not know the Savior. Pray for the parents of our kindergarten children and our Sunday School children. Pray for the people who will be sharing their faith with family and friends during Lunar New Year. Pray that Christ will come to life in their hearts. Let us also pray for the people who attend our church and do not know Jesus as Savior.

Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in the faith:

• who are sharing the gospel in difficult circumstances
• who are facing the issues that have been shared with us
• who are living a great distance from family
• students who are studying away from home and those studying in Hong Kong

Thank you for your prayer support. God bless you.