(submitted by Kerry Patton)
"For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not
perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
"For even the
Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many."
Mark 10:45
For My Usefullness in my Community, O God…
May Your Will Be Done
This statement will be recognized as an immediate
understatement: “God loves people.” Here is another: “Jesus came to
serve.” As I consider those two
statements, I also make consideration of my own life. Do I love people as God loves them? Do I serve others as Jesus came to
serve? What is God’s will for my
presence, my living, and my serving in the community that he has placed me in?
We asked members of our Prayer Advocates team to contribute
prayers as examples of how they ask for God’s will to be fulfilled being used
in their community. As you read their
prayers, may the Holy Spirit of God inspire you and lead you as you pray for
God’s will to be done in you as you live and serve in your community.
From Alan Myers:
“Lord,
As I live my life daily I pray that I will never be a stumbling block to those
I meet. I pray that others might be able to see You in me in everything I do
and in every word I speak.”
From Judy Myers:
“My
prayer is that God will use me in all communities, in all stores, hospitals,
and fellowships whether in Weatherford, Granbury, or Ft. Worth. I pray
where ever I go they will see Jesus in me. The most hurtful question anyone can
ask me is am I a Christian. If my actions, speech, and reaction to my
surroundings doesn’t allow the light of Jesus to be seen in me then I am not
walking the walk I should be.”
From Robin Moore:
“Lord
I pray that you will use me in my community. Use me Lord in my job at the
Weatherford Police Dept. and let my co-workers see Jesus in me. Father God let
me be that prayer warrior on the other end of that tragic 911 call. Use me God, Use me God, Use me God... Amen.”
From Laura Patton:
“Father,
for our community, may we take all You have blessed us with and taught us and
spread Your love and the good news of Your salvation to the world. May we give of ourselves, our finances and our
prayers for the work You have for us everywhere you would have us go. May our everyday comings and goings be filled
with You. May You be a natural extension
of who we are. The world is hurting and
they need You - may we help to introduce them to their Hope and Salvation.”
From Kerry Patton:
“Father,
I am your witness today, whether I am aware of it or not. My reactions, my actions, my attitudes, my
kindness, my…ahem…lack of kindness. My
community witnesses how I behave. They
come to know whether you are living in my actions and words…or not. Lord, I have now lived in this city longer
than any other place in my entire life.
These people know me. Do they
know you? In knowing me, do they want to
know you? Help me be used every day, O
God, to further your kingdom. Let me
speak encouragement. Let me give
generously. Let me be quick to lead and
serve. And let me always love “the least
of these” as you love them and gave yourself for them. I love this community Lord. This is the garden you have placed me in to
serve. Let me cultivate and harvest
hearts. Let me love and serve as you
love and serve. In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.”
