One man's prayer

Father, thank you so much for the grace and mercy that you have shown to me in Jesus.  I deserved none of it but have willingly and gratefully received all of it.  And, you didn’t stop with giving me new life, you have molded and shaped me, protected and challenged me, worked through and in spite of me.  You have done miracles in my family’s life and continue to walk with us to this very hour.

Father, thank you that you have given us a wonderful church home. It is through this body of believers that your overwhelming message of grace and forgiveness, of restoration and rebirth, of Christ dying so that each of us might live, was proclaimed. And thank you that the Holy Spirit took that gospel message from their lips to our hearts.  Lord, we praise you that your good seed landed on the good soil you prepared in our hearts and that you have brought growth both to me and my family.  On top of all that, you have called us to join this local body in their mission to proclaim the excellencies of your Son who lived and died and rose again.

Father, now this body, Christ’s body, has found themselves at a crossroads of sorts.  You have allowed a building to be given to us and we are so grateful.  And yet we are perplexed. Father, somehow our eyes and our hearts have lost their focus on you and instead they are trained upon ourselves. Like Peter in the storm, our faith has wavered.  And like Peter help us seek the only real solution: Lord save us!

Father, protect us from the idolatry of church buildings, both new and old.  Protect us from the twin errors of not listening to anyone else and not thinking for ourselves. Protect us from trying to address spiritual concerns with worldly techniques.  Protect us from putting bricks and mortar ahead of gospel and grace.  Protect us from the schemes of your enemy and ours. And, most of all, protect us from ourselves. Your Word is clear; we are our own worst enemy.

Father, we really do want you to do your will. We really do want to be a part of building the kingdom of your Son. We really do want to be a testimony of your extravagant love and grace. Ultimately, we really, really want Jesus to return and complete the saving, sanctifying, restorative work he began. So Father I close with the apostle’s heart-felt plea, “Come Lord Jesus”.  Amen.

A True Heart for Building

Oh God, if you could get our hearts and minds to where David's was...


[10] Therefore David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. [11] Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. [12] Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. [13] And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
[14] “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. [15] For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. [16] O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. [17] I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. [18] O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. [19] Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.”

(1 Chronicles 29:10-19 ESV)