Prayer advice: The harvest is plentiful…

daily writing

John 4:35a-37 (CEB) and Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)

Look, I tell you: open your eyes and notice that the fields are already ripe for harvest. Those who reap receive their wages and reap fruit for eternal life so that those who sow and those who reap can celebrate together. It is a true saying, that one sows and the other reaps.

Jesus passed through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing all sicknesses and infirmities. When he saw the crowds, he had pity on them, for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest field.

prayer advice

by Ashly Cooley, Executive Assistant for Locations and Care at Resurrection

Happy Child Worship Sunday! Since the next set of sermons will focus on future generations, I thought this would be a great time to reflect on how we as a community can help children when they need to get out of mud. Usually kids don’t want to get stuck in the mud. It’s disgusting, it doesn’t smell good. If adults get stuck so often after practice, we can only imagine how easy it is for our kids to get their tires stuck in the mud. Their proverbial tires are even closer to the mud!

One of the things I’ve found helpful is recognizing that we’re all stuck in the mud. This will inevitably happen from time to time. Helping our youngest understand that this will happen and the tools to use to cope with it is important. Making sure that we as a community are committed to helping them out of the mud should be our goal. Our children need to have loving people in their homes and outside their homes that they can turn to.

As teachers, Sunday School teachers, or trusted adults in the church, we can lovingly point out where the mistake seems to have happened and how to fix it. Teaching children that they don’t have to get stuck or be ashamed of being stuck reflects to them the love and grace that Jesus has for them.

This week, I invite you to pray for the younger members of our congregation and our community. May they feel how much God and we love them.

Pray for families:
Dear Jesus, we are raising families in our congregation. May adults be a model of peace, compassion and grace for their children. Comfort adults when they are tired. Give them a sense of peace when things seem tough. We raise the children of these families. May they feel your love and the love of those around them. Help them grow in wisdom and stature. Bless them as they begin another school year.

Pray for neighbors:
Dear Jesus, I raise families in my neighborhood, those I know and those I don’t know. Each house has a different challenge. Please be with families who have health needs. Please be with these families who are tired. Please be with those families who are struggling financially. Please bless the homes around us and let them feel your love and the love I have for them as a neighbor.

Pray for schools:
Dear Jesus, I am uplifting teachers and administrators as they prepare to enter another year of teaching during Covid. Their burdens are so heavy and what is expected of them is so high. Please help them feel the love you have for them and the love students and families have for them. Please surround them with comfort on tough days and heavenly high fives on good days. Surround them with love as they do your work.

Pray for social workers and foster children:
Dear Jesus, I uplift our valiant and hardworking social workers. Please be with social workers in our schools, communities and hospitals. Help support them while they work hard and protect them when they visit difficult places. We raise the children who are waiting to be placed in a foster family. May it be a place of comfort and security. May they feel loved by so many and please help these children get the resources they need.

Pray for hospitalized children:
Dear Jesus, I am raising your children in hospitals, whether short term visits or long term stays. Place your healing hands upon them and comfort them while they are away from home. Offer them and their caregivers hope, comfort and peace.