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Friday, July 1 “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” (Isaiah 57:15 ESV) Almighty God, you are high and lifted up above all things. Yet you also draw near to those who humble themselves before you. As we begin this summer of prayer, we humble ourselves in your presence. All we have is from you. We can do no good thing without the power given by your Spirit. Your grace is our only hope both for this life and for eternity. In these summer months, please strengthen our reliance on you. Deepen our love for you. Increase our love of prayer. Draw close to us as we draw close to you. We lift up our own prayers, especially for our family members: In Jesus’ name, amen. |
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Saturday, July 2 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16 ESV) Loving Father, we praise you for our church. Not only have you called us to be your children, you have called us to be a family. We thank you for the long history of Tunghai Church. We thank you for all who have served as its leaders and all who have been members. We know that you have used this church to bring great blessing to Taiwan and the world. We pray that you may continue to do so. Let the light of your love shine in our hearts and in our church. Let this light reach into the lives of those around us who do not yet know you. Help us to love one another, so that the world may know we are your disciples. Let us do good works, so that the world will come to praise you. Use us, especially, in reaching the faculty, staff, and students of Tunghai University. We lift up our own prayers, especially for the leaders of Tunghai Church and for our own friends in the church: In Jesus’ name, amen |
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Sunday, July 3 “Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.” (Psalm 84:4–7 ESV) God of peace, we thank you for the worship and rest of this day. We reflect on the things we heard in our church service this morning. We remember what we have gained from our Bible reading this past week. Lord, our strength is in you! In our hearts there are the highways to Zion, because we look forward eagerly to the eternal life you have promised us. Lord, we often go through valleys of tears, but your Spirit helps us to make even those valleys places of blessing and growth. We go from strength to strength because of you. As this day ends, fill us afresh with your peace! We commit to you the week of work that lies before us. We cast all our cares and burdens upon you, because you care for us. We lift up our own prayers, especially for our personal spiritual renewal: In Jesus’ name, amen. |
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Monday, July 4 “Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.’ And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, ‘Arise, anoint him, for this is he.’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.” (1 Samuel 16:11–13 ESV) Gracious God, we thank you today for the young people of our church: the children in our Sunday school, the youth in our Sunday program and our Saturday fellowship. They are a gift not only to their families but also to the church. Lord, we pray that your Spirit may rush upon them, even as he rushed upon the young David. Youth is not to be despised! It is the time of vigor and passion, a time when arms and legs are strong and hearts are filled with courage. You spoke through Samuel when he was young. Ecclesiastes admonishes us to remember our creator in the days of our youth. Jesus welcomed the children and blessed them. Cause the hearts of our young people to be fully devoted to you. Help our church to love them and teach them well. Give them vision for a lifetime of service to Jesus. We lift up our own prayers, especially for the young people of our church and for our Sunday school and youth programs: In Jesus’ name, amen. |
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Tuesday, July 5 ‘“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!’” (Psalm 46:10 ESV) God of all the world, you have commanded us to pray for ourselves and those close to us. You have also given us the privilege of praying for leaders and for nations. We remember that Monday was America’s Independence Day. We thank you for all the grace you have shown to the United States during its history. We thank you for the good you have brought to the world and to Taiwan through this country, and especially for its role in sending missionaries to the ends of the earth. We now pray earnestly for the United States, that it may experience a profound spiritual awakening. Forgive the sins of that country. Give wisdom to its leaders, especially President Biden. Cause the American people to see the dangers of individualism, secularism, and sexual license. Bring an end to the terrible string of shootings. Turn the nation back to God. We lift up our own prayers, especially for the United States of America and its relationship with Taiwan: In Jesus’ name, amen.
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