Dear friends
As I write this, we are in the middle of Thy Kingdom come, a movement of prayer during which the worldwide Church prays ” Thy Kingdom come” and is encouraged to pray for five people to know Jesus. This is great but also encourages you to continue to pray for people to know Jesus daily, not just over these 10 days.
This year the focus is the Lord’s Prayer. I was once asked what the point of the Lord’s prayer is – is it to be used only when you can’t think of anything to pray about? Great question – and very easy to answer: No.
The Lord’s prayer is a great invitation to know who God is.
The Lord’s prayer reminds us of who God is.
The Lord’s prayer reminds us of who we follow and why we follow.
The Lord’s prayer enables us to pray when we have no words.
How do you pray the Lord’s prayer? Or maybe a more challenging question: do you pray the Lord’s Prayer?
The Lords Prayer:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Amen.
As I write this, I am praying for five friends, and 4 of them have been on the same list for 10 years, but I am also aware that God is listening, and we keep praying. I love this idea of praying the Lord’s prayer over them, as it speaks of God’s power and wonder, and promise in their life. We don’t know what God is doing or what is happening in their lives, but what we keep doing is praying!
The other important area we are currently looking at is our Giving Series. On Pentecost Sunday (8th June) we shall share some of the things we believe God is asking us and on Sunday 15th June at both our 9.15 and 11 am services we will invite people to bring pledge forms, making pledges of finances, time and our gifts in shaping and forming our vision for the coming months. The headline is very simple:
People not projects.
I told you a few months ago you would get bored of us saying this, however ,my hope is that you are not bored by these words, but excited and buy into being part of this vision; to prayerfully be thinking of what this means to you – what is your part to play whoever you are and whatever age you are and whatever stage of your discipleship with Jesus you are at.
Our simple invitation is what part God is asking you to be part of as we serve His people and draw people into knowing him. This week, I was made chaplain to the Mayor. I was struck by the Mayor’s and deputy Mayor’s vision for Liskeard, and they used words of Hope and expectation and all the good opportunities that are coming to Liskeard. I would go one step further of be expectant of God doing a new thing, as I wrote about last month. We will continue to pray “Thy Kingdom Come” as we come to our Vision and Celebration Sundays, as a group of men go to The Gathering conference in Swindon from SOAR, and as Hannah and the youth team will take over 20 young people to a youth festival in Exeter at the end of the month. I believe this month is an important month for us to pray the Lord’s prayer together and pray for people to know they loved and chosen by God because as we pray “Thy Kingdom Come” it celebrates people. God’s precious children.
A closing question: Are you ready to welcome new people into His family through your prayers and actions?
That is what I am praying – will you join with me this week and in the coming weeks to simply pray the Lords prayer over the people of Liskeard?
God Bless
Mark