PRAYERS OF A LIFE WITHOUT LACK
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
We are so thankful to you that you have said,
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
We are thankful for the ease with which you walked upon this earth, the generosity and kindness you showed to people, the devotion with which you cared for those who were out of the way and in trouble, the extent to which you even loved your enemies and laid your life down for them.
We are so thankful to believe that this is a life for us, a life without lack, a life of sufficiency.
It’s so clear in you, the sufficiency of the Father and the fullness of life that was poured through you, and we’re so thankful that you have promised that same love, that same life, that same joy, that same power for us.
Lord, slip up on us today.
Get past our defenses, our worries, our concerns.
Gently open our souls, and speak your Word into them.
We believe you want to do it, and we wait for you to do it now.
In your name, amen.
PSALM 23 PRAYER
The Lord is my Shepherd, I have life without lack.
In his green pastures I’ve eaten my fill so I lie down.
At his still waters my thirst is satisfied.
He heals and reintegrates my broken depths in his eternal life
so I can walk in paths of righteousness on his behalf.
Even though I go through loss, hunger, disease, aging, and death
I will fear no evil because you Jesus are with me.
Your strong rod and protective staff put me at liberty.
Your abundant provision is a feast for me so I’m happy to share with my enemies.
You give me hot showers and warm fluffy towels, joyful experiences and deep relationships,
to make me feel clean, special, and powerful.
My cup runs over so I can be generous without ever running out.
Surely this world is a perfectly safe place for me to be
Because I dwell and abide with God in the fullness of his life in the Kingdom of the Heavens forever.
CLOSING PRAYER
Gracious Lord,
Help us to see and understand – with the eyes of faith and the mind you have given us – your magnificent, glorious, self-sufficient being, and the greatness of your kingdom into which we are invited.
May we grasp the deep significance of the words, “in Him we live and move and have our being,” and know that in that safest of places – in you – there is simply no lack.
Open our eyes to the high privilege of being created in your image.
Convince us that nothing makes you happier than seeing those you redeemed by your grace devoting their days to the good of other people and your creation.
Win over our timid and doubting hearts with the conviction that we are your greatest treasure in all creation.
Give us sober yet fearless awareness of Satan’s ploys and deceits.
Strengthen our hearts in the knowledge that we have nothing to fear, for you have defeated him.
We are so glad to know that greater are you who are in us that he that is in the world.
May our hearts carry that message as we contemplate the awesome reality of the spiritual battle around us.
Tender Father, you have taught us so clearly that faith – trust – is essential to life without lack.
We confess that we while we believe in you, we need to believe more fully, more deeply, more constantly.
In his life, death, and resurrection Jesus showed us that you are completely and utterly trustworthy, and even in the shadow of death there is nothing to fear, for you are with us.
Bring us to the place of peace where we no longer feel a need to defend ourselves, or to worry about who’s going to take care of us, or to be recognized, or to get our way, or to make sure things turn out right.
Lord, free us through the knowledge that because you are with us, working in our lives, we have everything we need.
And now, with the truth of who you are deeply engraved in our hearts, give us the confidence and power to love all who are in our lives just as we are being loved by you – freely, fully, joyfully.
Let your Spirit move in our minds and hearts so we believe ever more fully that because you are our all-sufficient Shepherd, we shall never want.
We ask all this because we would have it no other way.
Amen.