Here Is What I Am Praying...

I am so thankful for all the people who are regularly praying for our church from within our church family and also th many who have committed to pray who have maybe visited or are just aware of us and burdened for us. I thought it would be helpful to share something that we worked through at our night of prayer recently and which I am committing to pray for the next season of ministry at Harvest Bible Chapel Glasgow. So, here is what I am praying...

That God would move in grace to heal soul, mind, emotions and body.

That we would have stories to tell of healings of all kinds that are regular and verifiable as God’s response to prayers of faith from His people.
That life transformation would be a tangible reality in the lives of our church family.
That our low expectations of what the church should be would be transformed by marvelling at the works of the Lord- that we would be fuelled by a desire to see things that can only be explained by 'only God could have done this'

That people would have a distinct sense of hearing God speak with authority into their souls in a way that brings Holy Spirit

For dynamic, penetrating Biblical preaching that would see the truth of God's Word pressed down deep into people's lives.
That the preaching would direct us to consider what we are building with our lives and inspire us to trust God to cause things, built in His way by His Word, to endure.
That we would see people come to faith in Christ as the Word of God is preached.
That God would use the preaching to break any tendency towards stubbornness or complacency in our hearts.
That the preaching would excite in each person who receives it a fresh and abundant affection for God, stirring worship deep in their souls and with all their lives.

That there would be an overflow of passionate, expressive worship.

That voices would be loud, hands raised, tears flowing, minds expanded, hearts moved as Christ is adored. That the passion of the praise would testify to the reality of God’s presence and melt the hearts of those attending who do not yet believe.
That God would stir within us a self-forgetfulness born of humility as we honour Him for His faithfulness, grace, mercy and love.
For an intensity in worship borne out of the increase in understanding of who God is and awe-filled thankfulness at what what He has done.

That we would see regular and continuous salvations

That these would flow from all walks of life moving people from everything from independence to despair to experience total transformation of their now and forever.
That our church would be a place where people can confiedently bring their friends who don't know Jesus assured that they will not just find community but above all hear the truth from God's Word.
That God would stir within each of our hearts a longing to see those around us come to faith in Jesus.
That there would be a gracious boldness in our conversationsin presenting Jesus to those around us. That this would go beyond just assuming that actions will be enough but that we give a reason for the hope that we have with the words that God has given us.
That we would see bold Jesus sharing as an act of worship that is highly Christ exalting.

That our church would be marked by a joyful diversity

For us to be allowed to reach and serve those who are lost, hurt, broken and disappointed.
That the church would be a place where people are welcome and embrace.

That our small groups would stir us up and spur us on as we support the weight of walking with God.

That relationships would flourish and follow the Biblical pattern of grace and truth.
That we would not make excuses for one another but that we would see to encourage one another to respond to the convicting and courage giving work of the Holy Spirit.
That we would fight for God’s best in each other. That a mark of our fellowship would be a high capacity for forgiveness, patience, and burden bearing.

That, as our Elders lead, we would know unity together

That any pride would not seek to hold sway over what the church would look like, that all would do everything they can as far as it is up to them to be at peace with everyone.
That gossip, critical talk, envy and contention would not be tolerated by anyone in the church.
That negative conversations would be cut short before they have opportunity to bear ill fruit. That we would speak directly to people not detrimentally about people.
That each of us would guard our tongues having examined our hearts and make offences right quickly. That we would know perseverance & patience in these things.

That as we grow together we would be a wider blessing to Christ’s church

That our gratefulness for what Jesus has done would overflow into graciousness and generosity so that Christians become disciples and disciples become leaders.
That God would open doors for us to assist in planting multiple churches in the UK and as we partner with Harvest Bible Fellowship around the globe.

That our church would be a place that meets the need of the poor and the alien

That these priorities are not a program or a phase but the lasting overflow of God’s abundance in our hearts.
That this would not be some kind of specialist ministry for the interested few but a characteristic of all who come to the church.
That compassion would be a mark of our church as we understand in deeper ways how God has reached into our deep, deep need.

That we would all share a delight in these things

That we would all have a sense of rejoicing and wonder at the marvellous things that God is doing before us as a demonstration of His great power and gracious presence.