Prayer for Greater Holiness

July 5, 2020 No Comments

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By Stephen W. Hiemstra

Holy and Eternal Father,

We praise you for your mercy and grace through Jesus Christ, who died for our sins before we were even born.

We confess that you alone are holy.

From our mother’s womb we have tried your patience and even now come to you with blood-stained hands.

Forgive us in our rebellion against your covenant and against your son.

In the power of your Holy Spirit, cleanse our hearts and minds that we might become fit stewards of your mercy and grace to those among us who have not heard the good news or have rejected it on account of our sin and folly.

Draw us to yourself today across the gaps that separate us that we might have new life in you, this day, and forever more.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Prayer for Greater Holiness

Also see:

Believer’s Prayer

Other ways to engage online:

Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net

Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/HangHome_2020

Life in Tension, Prayer

Prayer of Praise

June 28, 2020 No Comments

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By Stephen W. Hiemstra

God of all mercy and grace,

We praise you for creating the heaven and the earth, all that is, that was, and that will ever be; all things seen and unseen.

We look upon your creation, smile, and praise your name.

We praise you for the example of your son, our savior, Jesus Christ—who in life served others, who in death atoned for our sin, and who in rising from the dead granted us the hope of eternal life.

We see your son’s example and feel your love for us.

We praise you for your Holy Spirit, who draws us to you, grants every good gift, and provides all things.

We look upon your Holy Spirit’s power in the world and break out in praise.

May your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, today and every day, with us and through us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer of Praise

Also see:

Believer’s Prayer

Other ways to engage online:

Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net

Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/HangHome_2020

Life in Tension, Prayer

Prayer of Confession and Blessing

June 21, 2020 No Comments

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By Stephen W. Hiemstra

Merciful Father, Beloved Son, Ever-present Spirit,

We praise you, Lord, for your mercy, grace, patience, love, and faithfulness; for healing us of our afflictions, for forgiving our sin, and for your presence in our life; for in you we find faith, hope, and love, as nowhere else.

We confess that you alone are God, yet we make idols of machines, institutions, and our own pet theories. We have not followed the example of your son, Jesus Christ, and have set our own desires above our families, friends, and even your church. Forgive our sin; overlook our transgressions; and heal us of our iniquity—that we might be whole again and restored to your presence.

We give thanks for the many blessings that you have freely given us: our families, our health, our work, and even life itself.

We ask you now to bless us that we might bless others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer of Confession and Blessing

Also see:

Believer’s Prayer

Other ways to engage online:

Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net

Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/HangHome_2020

Life in Tension, Prayer

Sanctification Prayer

June 14, 2020 No Comments

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

Merciful God,

I praise you for the gift of your law and your provision of grace through Jesus Christ that we might approach you in prayer.

You are the God of mercy and grace, who is slow to anger, abounding in love, and faithful.

There is none like you; may I ever model myself on your immutable character remembering your law, being ever-mindful of your grace, and enjoying the support of your church.

May I be quick to share your mercy, grace, and love with those around me in thought, word, and deed through the power of the Holy Spirit, and in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sanctification Praye

Also see:

Believer’s Prayer

Other ways to engage online:

Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net

Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Ready_2020

Life in Tension, Prayer

Prayer for Compassion and Mercy

June 7, 2020 No Comments

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

God of All Compassion and Mercy,

Forgive me, Lord, for the sins of my youth when I fell short of the plans you had for me. When in your great compassion you were kind to me and patient, teaching me your law and demonstrating your grace.

Forgive me, Lord, for the transgressions of my youth when I disobeyed your law when in your mercy you looked the other way and disregarded my attitude, teaching me forbearance and gentle persuasion.

Forgive me, Lord, for the iniquity of my youth when I failed to help those around me.

When in your everlasting love you sent your son to die for me, atoning for my sin, my transgressions, and my iniquity so that I might grow to be a man mindful of compassion, mercy, and love that were modeled for me all the days of my life.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Prayer for Compassion and Mercy

Also see:

Believer’s Prayer

Other ways to engage online:

Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net

Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Ready_2020

Life in Tension, Prayer

Confessional Prayer

May 31, 2020 No Comments

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By Stephen W.Hiemstra

Creator God,

We praise you for creating us in your image, complete in ourselves yet complementary with one another.

We confess that we have been too quick to sin, and too slow to forgive. Thank you for the gift of Your Son and Our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Forgive us; restore us; redeem us—teach us to imitate you so that we might grow more and more like you every day.

May we ever hunger and thirst for your righteous presence day by day.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit and in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Confessional Prayer

Also see:

Believer’s Prayer

Other ways to engage online:

Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net

Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Ready_2020

Life in Tension, Prayer

Prayer for an Identity in Christ

May 24, 2020 No Comments

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By Stephen W. Hiemstra

Almighty Father,

You are the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, the one outside of time that created all things.

We praise you for providing the bread of life and well-spring of everlasting life which is your son, Jesus Christ—our redeemer, the author of our faith, and our only true friend.

We thank you for simple things, like family, bread to eat, clean water to drink, work to do, and friends in Christ.

Through the power of your Holy Spirit, help us to share our physical and spiritual gifts with those around us—first our family, then our friends, and even those we do not know well so that your name would be praised among the nations.

Forgive us when we play the fool out of pride, not for you, but out of our own ignorance.

Humble us that we might become worthy servants of your church and not ourselves.Help us to find our identity in you— not in our friends, nor in our wealth nor in our accomplishments, but in you—so that if we play the fool, it is for you and you alone.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Prayer for an Identity in Chris

Also see:

Believer’s Prayer

Other ways to engage online:

Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net

Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Ready_2020

Life in Tension, Prayer

Passion Prayer

May 17, 2020 No Comments

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By Stephen W. Hiemstra

Good Shepherd,

We praise you for the gifts of Eden—fertile land, water and food, and the security of your presence.

Keep our hands busy; guard our minds; and give us hearts that yearn only for you.

Forgive us that we are not fit for Eden; that we are not satisfied with your gifts; that we have not valued your presence; that our hands have been idle, our minds set on physical things, and our hearts easily tempted by crass things.

Restore us—make us fit custodians of your garden.

Let our hearts yearn for your presence and our minds hunger and thirst for your righteousness, that all the days of our lives our hands may praise you with good works.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit and in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Passion Prayer

Also see:

Believer’s Prayer

Other ways to engage online:

Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net

Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Release_2020

Life in Tension, Prayer

Petition to Grow Faith

May 10, 2020 No Comments

Life_in_Tension_revision_front_20200101 By Stephen W. Hiemstra

Precious Lord,

In our finitude, our sin, our brokenness, we yearn for your righteousness, oh God.

As the hungry grasp for bread and as the thirsty cry for water, we search for your justice where no other will do and no other can be found.

Your Holy scriptures remind us that you are ever-near, always vigilant, and forever compassionate.

Through the desert of our emotions and in the wilderness of our minds, bind our wounds, relieve our pains, and forgive our sins.

Through the power of your Holy Spirit, grow our faith even as our strength fails us.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Petition to Grow Faith

Also see:

Believer’s Prayer

Other ways to engage online:

Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net

Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com.

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Release_2020

Life in Tension, Prayer

Meek Leadership Prayer

May 3, 2020 No Comments

Life_in_Tension_revision_front_20200101 By Stephen W. Hiemstra

Almighty Father,

We give thanks for the gift of faith and the call into ministry that reaches out to our families, friends, and beyond.

Guard our hearts in times of weakness, hardship, and temptation.

Keep our minds sharp so that we can offer you our praise with clarity, coherence, and dedication, not tainted by vain desires, cultural confusion, or subtle idolatries.

Grant us a spirit of meekness, a spirit of humility seated deeply in our character—not loosely held, superficially worn, or overshadowed by cherished sins.

Place in us hearts eager to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.

Give us the assurance of your providence so we can offer sacrificial hospitality to those around us.

In the face of suffering, make your Holy Spirit especially visible so that we would not fail in our ministry due to temptations to be relevant, powerful, or spectacular in the eyes of those in our care.