Trust in God's Providence - September's Prayer Emphasis

Below is the prayer guide for our September Prayer Emphasis. Please join the elders is making these truths part of your prayer life this month. 

You can also download a PDF version better formatted for your phone or tablet, which we hope will make it easier to pray. 

We also created a resource to help you pray with others. More specifically, to actively engage in prayer while someone else is praying. It's a simple approach we call the ARC method. It is driven by three steps: agree, repent, and connect. If you missed the video explanation, you can access it here: Praying with Others. If you'd rather read about the method, you can find a summary here. 

TRUST IN GOD’S PROVIDENCE

 

Call upon me in the day of trouble; 

I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.

 

Psalm 50:15

 

 

 

WEEK 1: CARE

 

We trust in God’s providence because he cares for his own people.  God always watches over his people. This experience has only been sweetened for those in the new covenant, as we now look to God, individually, as our heavenly Father. There has never been a more loving, caring, protecting Father as God, so we have every reason to trust him.

 

·      Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (Jas 1:17).

 

·      Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! ⁹ Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! ¹⁰ The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing (Ps 34:8–10).

 

·      And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows(Matt 10:28–31).

 

·      Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1 Pet 5:6–7).

 

 

WEEK 2: CIRCUMSTANCES

 

We trust in God’s providence in all circumstances. What happens in the day-by-day moments of our lives should not threaten our confidence in God. As we live in the overlap of the old creation that is passing away and the new creation that is coming into the world, we will experience difficulty. Yet he ordains every circumstance of our lives—health, finances, cultural movements—and we have every confidence to continue to trust God and his providence. 

 

·      Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. ⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. ⁹¹ By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants(Ps 119:89–91).

 

·      The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth . . . gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. ²⁶ And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place (Acts 17:24–26).

 

·      I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. ⁷⁶ Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant (Ps 119:75–76).

 

·      And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).

 

·      Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Phil 4:11–13).

 

 

 

WEEK 3: AUTHORITY

 

We trust in God’s providence while under authority. God rules over all things, including human authority. Moreover, he is the one who establishes individual leaders—to bless or afflict a people that they might turn to him. This confidence gives us the ability to trust him under every human authority. For even those who would seem to despise the Lord are being used to work out his eternal plans and purposes. 

 

·      “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. ²¹ He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding”(Daniel 2:20–21).

 

·      The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will . . . . No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD (Prov 21:1, 30).

 

·      First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ² for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. ³ This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:1–4).

 

·      Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. ¹⁷ Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor (1 Pet 2:13–17).

 

 

 

WEEK 4: OBEDIENCE

 

We trust in God’s providence knowing he delights in joyful obedience. When circumstances are difficult, it can be easy to turn inward. Rather than serving the living God, we just hunker down to get through the storm. But Christ is the Lord of the storm.  Even in great difficulty, we can be obedient to him and serve others by entrusting our lives to God.  

 

·      Through [Jesus] then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. ¹⁶ Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God (Heb 13:15–16).

 

·      The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. ⁸ The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed (Psalm 28:7–8).

 

·      Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD. ⁶ There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!” ⁷ You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. ⁸ In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:5–8).

 

·      Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. ⁸It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones (Prov 3:5–8).

 

·      And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work (2 Cor 9:8).