West Park Baptist Church

Loving God, Loving People, Impacting the World

Daily Dose of Faith

Daily Dose of Faith (6/12/2020) – Humble Minds

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Today’s blog prayer is written by Tony Sims, husband and dad, church member and deacon and servant leader on the West Park Prayer Leadership Team.

1 Peter 3:8 – Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (ESV)

Heavenly Father,

What an awesome Father you are to your children. You are a Father of light in whom there is no darkness at all.  You declare us as your children to participate in your kingdom.  Lord, we understand that we are a fallen people and do not represent you as we should in this dark world.  The choices and stances we often take bring shame to you and how we affect our brothers and sisters in Christ.  You are clear in your Word that we are to humble ourselves under your mighty hand that we may be exalted by you at the proper time.

Our nation, government, media, social networking, and families are suffering from a lack of humbling ourselves before you.  We fail miserably in listening to others who are hurting during a time when the “author of confusion,” our enemy, is at work.  Father, we choose to listen to the many voices around us in the world and refuse to even attempt to look through the lens of others as to how our actions impact your kingdom which includes our brothers and sisters in Christ who you dearly love.  You boldly asked us not to be conformed to this world but be transformed through your Word.  We humbly ask that you help us to see how you value love in all our relationships.  The only way that we as brothers and sisters in Christ can show the world that we are your image bearers is that we show love that is active and not passive.

Thank you, Father, how you demonstrated love through Jesus during His ministry on earth.  Your attention was on the marginalized, the rejects of society, the oppressed, those who had no voices and the disqualified.  Your Word says that you came to set at liberty those who are oppressed.  Give us sensitive ears and humble minds and hearts to see how our choices and fallenness impact your intentions for your kingdom.  We understand that suffering precedes glory as it has been demonstrated by the prophets of old, the apostles, many saints before us and, most importantly, by Jesus who suffered for us and now is glorified. Help us to be poor in spirit, mourners, meek, willing to comfort others, peacemakers, merciful, pure in heart, and to hunger and thirst for righteousness in this world.

We need you to please give our church leaders your Word that will spark a spirit of humility in the behavior of your people.  Help us to understand it is not about us, but it is all about you.  Father, help us to remember that this world is not our home and we are only pilgrims passing through.  While we are here, help us to follow your example by having a humble, open mind towards you and especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Help us to love you with all our heart, soul, and mind and love our neighbors as ourselves in fulfillment of your command.  Forgive us for not loving our neighbors and for not taking on the mind of Christ so that your name will be glorified throughout this world.  Now, Father, we commit our hearts and all our thoughts to pleasing you because of what you did for all of us through your Son at Calvary, by humbly taking on our sins to make us right with you.  It is in Jesus’ precious name we ask these things.  Amen

Daily Dose of Faith (6/11/2020) – Tender Hearts

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1 Peter 3:8 – Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (ESV)

A Prayer for Today:

Most Holy Father, 

You shower us daily with love and care from the abundance of your tender heart. Even as we pursue Peter’s command, we cannot begin by our actions to scratch the surface of Your infinite tenderness. You did not leave us to wallow in our lost state, for in tenderness of heart You sent Jesus for our great need of forgiveness. We believe You change not, so Your tenderness will minister to us still today. We need You, Father. 

Jesus, our Lord, You understand the world of men. You who lived among us know our tendency toward closed hearts… hard hearts. Where You constantly met the needs of others who came to You for help, we tend to close ourselves off from others, not wanting the inconvenience of feeling their pain. We are guilty of making excuses so that we feel less guilty when we leave the suffering of our fellow man unaddressed. Forgive us for our hard-hearted apathy. Yet in the wonder of grace we receive Your forgiveness and cleansing for even this sin! You are so faithful to us in Your tender love. 

Holy Spirit, please help us to live the good life that Peter describes in this verse. It is the good life of following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus: He who loves with such tender-hearted love. Help us to see the needs of those around us and be softened. Help us to pray for those on our screens protesting right now, seeing their needs for which they cry and praying for their greater need of Christ their only Hope. Help us to see our law enforcement officers fulfilling their duty with the tender heart of Christ. Their service in these days is crucial, and we pray You would grant our believing brothers and sisters in the police force and military with tender hearts for those in front of them. 

God, grant that we as a church would have tender hearts toward one another. Make us like You.

In the name of Jesus, Amen. 

Daily Dose of Faith (6/9/2020) – Unity of Mind

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1 Peter 3:8–12

[8] Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. [9] Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. [10] For

“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
[11] let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
[12] For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (ESV)

 

I wish I had answers that could solve all the turmoil I see around the country right now. The kind of answers that would quickly end the suffering, stamp down the pride, and see people of all walks of life prosper and thrive.

But if we want to see change happen in society, it must first happen within the Household of God.

Peter wrote back in the 1st Century a message that is still needed today because the counsel is God’s timeless Word. While I can’t come up with quick answers to change people’s hearts, God can. Today through Friday let’s turn to 1 Peter 3:8-12, seeking God’s plan for how we should respond at all times to our fellow believers in the church and towards those outside the church. Join me in prayer today for unity of mind (3:8).

Most Holy Father,

We turn to You because You are the Truth. You have established Your Word and it stands firm. No matter the course of human history, no matter how buffeted we are on this earth, no matter how shifting the tides of culture may be, You change not. We read in the Bible that Your steadfast love never ceases, therefore we are not consumed. How great is Your faithfulness!

Yet, Father, we are confronted by images on our screens, devices and newsfeeds of the turmoil in our country. How far we have fallen from the unified goal of being Your image-bearers. Instead we have succumbed to the darker strains of our fallen natures, preferring one over another, giving priority to some and not others, placing distinctions on the human race and, even worse, within the church. Forgive us, Father.

Lord Jesus, You always walked through life looking for who You could encourage, who You could listen to whether that be children, women, or the worst sinners you could find. You did all so You could rescue those trapped and fallen far from God’s glory. You took on full humanity so You could identify with us all. You did this so You could truly be our substitute to endure the wrath of God. We confess again our trust in You. Of all potential saviors in this world, You alone are exalted as worthy and able to save. We need You, Jesus.

Holy Spirit, help us to have unity of mind. Help us to remember who we are as the image-bearers of God and as the redeemed family of Jesus. Help us to prioritize the unity that we have in Christ and apply it in our discussions with one another. Help us to respond to those who differ with the love and patience of Christ. Please do this to glorify our Father God and to produce good in our lives. May You be pleased to do this work in us. And may You be pleased to transform us so that our unity would shine out brightly to a dark world, showing them the glory and majesty of King Jesus.

In His name we pray, amen.