This past week the men of West Seattle again gathered in Jesus’ name to pray for the individuals and needs of our church, our communities, and our city. Each of the last two weeks we have opened our time together by encouraging one another through the sharing of the various opportunities God had orchestrated that week to share the hope of the gospel with those around us (1 Peter 3:15). It was a tremendous encouragement to hear of the numerous ways the Holy Spirit continues to work in our lives to bear witness to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Cliff then led us in a verse by verse meditation on Psalm 100 (below), and we prayed in response to each verse as the Holy Spirit led us.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Reflections on this psalm during our time of prayer included giving thanks that God “chose us in him before the foundation of the world” (Eph 1:4), that Jesus’ true sheep listen to his voice and follow him (John 10:27), and an observation that only a heart firmly fixed on God can write with the passion for God that is expressed in this psalm.

Prayers this week:

• Pray that people attending Mars Hill will recognize that they are image bearers of God, and put their identity in Jesus Christ instead of the world. Pray that they will seek to remain in Jesus, for apart from him we can do nothing (John 15:4,5).
• Pray that God will bring more people through the doors of Mars Hill that do not know Jesus. Pray that the hearts of our members would break for those that do not know Jesus.
• Pray that we would boldly share the good news of Jesus Christ as God grants us opportunity in our spheres of influence (1 Peter 3:15), and that we would never be ashamed of the gospel (Rom 1:16). Pray that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to speak and the actions to act at all times.
• As our church continues to grow, pray for God to rise up more competent leaders within our church that have a heart for serving.
• Pray for the elders of Mars Hill – that they will respond to the various attacks of the enemy with holiness and humility (2 Tim 2: 24-26).
• Pray that God will give the wisdom of Heaven to the prayer team that prays for people during communion on Sundays. God has already been working mightily during those times.
• Pray that believers in our church would be steadfast in prayer (Col 4:2), and that God would continue to bring more men on Wednesday mornings to pray.