Our group has recently been looking at Dave Andrew’s book, “Plan Be”, which is a look at the ‘beatitudes’ as a framework for living. His basic premise is that we can’t change the world but we can change ourselves. The book looks at each of the beatitudes, one chapter at a time and challenges us to weave them into the way we live each day.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
This is a great series that you can do with a group and there are also heaps of free resources to help you at www.wecan.be
Try using this prayer as great start to the series or on its own.
We will be using the Beatitudes as the theme for our prayers this evening. I will close each prayer with “Lord in your strength” and if you can all respond with “may we be salt & light”
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Lord we pray for those who are not content. We pray for those who suffer from depression, or loneliness, or do not feel life is going in the direction they wanted. For those who have times in the day or night when their minds slip into dark places, where they feel helpless or disappointed somehow.
We also pray for those who are spiritually bankrupt. For those who don’t know you, or for those who once did but have now become disillusioned and can no longer hear your still, small voice.
Lord we pray for those who are poor. We pray for those in this country who have lost their jobs and struggle to live a life with the freedoms that the rest of us take for granted. We also cry out for those who live in desperate situations, those who are forced to live a live stripped of dignity. Those who are forced to beg for food, or those who are forced into compromised situations as they see it as their only escape.
Lord we ask for wisdom and grace to support and uphold these people, to encourage and love them. We ask that we your church would show them the kingdom of heaven and how we live our lives would somehow show something of your glory.
Lord in your strength – May we be salt and light
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Lord we pray for those who have lost loved ones. We pray that they would remember the good times and celebrate the life of the one they lost. We ask that in the times of anguish when they cry out to you or feel angry at the situation they have found themselves in that you would mop up that anger and return it with love. We pray that even though we don’t understand your ways, we would learn to trust them.
We pray for those with old wounds, that are maybe buried deep inside. We pray for those who carry around a great sadness. We beseech you Lord that you would help ease that burden and that we as your people would support and carry those who need it.
Lord in your strength – May we be salt and light
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth
Lord we pray for Godly meekness in your people. We pray that we would not compare ourselves to others, to seek our own gain. We pray that we would not put value in what our society tells us to put value in, but instead we live and uphold your kingdom values.
Lord we ask up that you would raise up in your church a people who display assertive meekness. For those who do not put themselves first, but at the same time are passionate about justice, and integrity for the poor. We pray that as the church we would stand up not for our individual wants but rather champion the voiceless, to act for the poor, and to love justice.
Lord in your Strength – May we be salt and light
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled
Lord hunger and thirst carry such strength in their meaning. To long for and need. To chase after and prioritize. We pray that is how we would be for righteousness. We rejoice that in your strength you can mould and reform us. We know that we your people can be a fragrant offering and by your grace through Jesus we can be righteous.
Lord in your Strength – May we be salt and light
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy
Lord we are not praying here for some sort of cosmic Karma. But rather we celebrate your promise that you will bless your children. We thank you that you are a merciful God. We thank you for Jesus’ victory in life and in death.
Lord, by your spirit may we be merciful. Lord we pray that we do not hold a grudge, that we do not look to judge others. We pray that we would look to bless and encourage others. Lord we pray that we would be passionate for others physical and material well-being, their spiritual wellbeing and also that they would have the freedoms and voice that you want for your people.
Lord in your Strength – May we be salt and light
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God
Lord we are excited, that you will come again to claim your throne. Lord that you are coming again to make all things new, that your kingdom will reign.
Lord we also thank you that you meet with us where we are. Lord that through your spirit we can be with you and that you can give us the eyes to see something of your glory and character around us, in the created world and in the people we meet and the relationships we form.
Lord we ask that you the true refiner would purify our hearts. Lord that we would be set apart and live life with a different agenda. A kingdom agenda with the aim of serving you.
Lord in your Strength – May we be Salt & light
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God
Lord enlighten us as to what peace really means. Lord may we be ambassadors for peace. Peace in the knowledge you are God. Peace in relationships, in marriages, parenting, work relationships. Peace for those who live without enough, who cannot know peace because they do not have a fair share of this world we have been entrusted with. Peace in nations, and politics, and justice.
Lord in everything we do, we pray that we would bring your peace. We pray that we would all see this is our calling. We have been invited to be the sons and daughters in your family. Therefore this is our family trade.
Lord in your strength – May we be Salt & Light
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
As we read the stories of your prophets or the accounts of the early apostles, we realize this is a life that can come with a cost. Lord the road you take us on will not necessarily be an easy one.
We thank you for those who have gone before us, who would not compromise their faith. Who quietly suffered and they diligently lived out your plan for their lives. For those whose faith led ultimately to their death.
Lord we ask that we would be strong. That we your people would have hope in you alone. Lord we ask that we as Christians, would unsettle the status quo. That we would ruffle your feathers in bringing your gospel and living a life that has a different agenda. An agenda that is to build your kingdom, to walk humbly and love righteousness.
Lord in your strength – May we be salt and light
Lord in all these prayers may we know what it is to be blessed. To have your approval. To have you acceptance, however unworthy we are of that approval.
In Jesus’ name
Amen
