Weekly Prayer
LORD God,
In the beginning, you created the heavens and the earth. On the sixth day, you created the first man but said [Genesis 2: 18]: “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make a helper suitable for him.” You made a woman, not out of the same dust which you used to form the man, but from the man’s rib [Genesis 2: 20b-22]. You said [Genesis 2: 24], “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” In this way you provided for future generations. Families do not always exist in the ways you designed, but you are able to restore relationships that our sin has destroyed. You did this for Joseph and his family [SEE: Genesis 45: 4-8]. You provided Mordecai [Esther 2: 7] to bring up Esther, who had no father or mother, and put her in place [Esther 4: 14] to save your people.
How do we live together in families well? You tell us that we are to impress your commandments on our children [Deuteronomy 6: 6-7]. First, we obey your commands out of the reverence we have for you, Christ Jesus, by mutual submission to and love for one another [Ephesians 5: 21-22, 25]. Your Word tells us to honor and obey our fathers and mothers [Deuteronomy 5: 16; Colossians 3: 20]. Parents are told not to embitter their children [Colossians 3: 21]. Children and grandchildren are instructed to care for parents and grandparents [1 Timothy 5: 4]. Jesus, on the cross, amidst the anguish you were suffering [John 19: 26-27], you asked your disciple John to care for your mother.
You put families together to love, provide for and encourage one another. But sin can interfere. You created the church, your family, i.e. the family of Christ, to also love, support and encourage one another. Thank you, LORD, for providing our first families. Help us to faithfully uphold them in prayer and to obey your commands. Thank you for providing our church family, where we can be encouraged to join together to live in the ways you want us to live. We sing to you, God, singing praises to your name. We extol you, the one who rides on the clouds. Your name is LORD and we rejoice before you. You are a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows. You are in your holy dwelling. You set the lonely in families… [Psalm 68: 4-6a.] Bring your kingdom to earth, LORD Jesus, through your Holy Spirit shining forth from your people. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.
First Methodist Church Warren
200 Market Street
Warren, Pennsylvania 16365
Office Hours
MON 8:30 am - 4:00 pm - TUE 8:30 am - 4:00 pm - WED 8:30 am - 4:00 pm - THUR 8:30 am - Noon - FRI 8:30 am - Noon