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Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18

Heavenly Father, how we praise you for the gift of the Holy Spirit—who has marked us as yours and who makes us like Jesus. What comfort, assurance and peace we have in knowing that nothing can separate us from your love; nothing will disconnect us from your will; nothing is left up to chance. You will bring to completion the good work you have begun in us and in your world—and you will do so by the power and presence of your Spirit. For so glorious a gospel, so grand a salvation, and so great a hope, we worship and adore you.

As we lean into this day, we gladly give ourselves to the work of your Spirit in us and through us—in particular, our calling to “pray in the Spirit.” We would surely despair if we had to pray in the smallness of our strength, or on the basis of our godliness, or by the limitations of our perspective.

So Father, in the name of Jesus, by the power of the Spirit, for the revealing of your glory, we bring our prayers and requests to you. Do exceedingly beyond all we can ask or imagine. Startle us with your faithfulness. Shock us with your goodness. Astonish us by your generosity. We won’t mind being embarrassed by our lack of faith if it will highlight the greatness of your love.

We bring you our children and the children of our friends. Make the gospel beautiful and believable to them, Father. May we neither despair of our failures nor rely on our parenting for their salvation. Capture them and free them for your purposes and praise.

We bring you our churches. Bring renewal, bring restoration of first love, bring deep repentance. Free us from our boring ingrown-ness, our paralyzing pettiness, and our predictable sameness. Stir us up, shake us up, and send us out. Make us like gospel fountains, for our cities and communities.

We bring you our friends. Wounded hearts, broken marriages, strained relationships, depleted finances, destructive addictions, failing health… Holy Spirit, bring your resurrection power to bear. Work miracles in our midst, for the fame of Jesus and the glory of God.

We bring you ourselves. Nobody needs the gospel more than us, more than me, Father. Gentle us, refresh us… let us hear you again, singing over us in Jesus; let us experience your great and transforming delight; quiet our restless hearts with your irrepressible love. So very Amen we pray, in the Spirit and in Jesus’ name.

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