This week we opened our time excited about what God has in store for Mars Hill and this specific prayer group as Mars Hill moves through the “Pray Like Jesus” series on Sundays.  We again opened the floor for men to give testimony to the opportunities God had orchestrated in the past week to share the good news of Jesus Christ with unbelievers in our lives through word or deed.  Each week we are continually encouraged by how God, in his sovereignty, continues to call people to himself, and chooses to use us as part of that process.  We are praying for more and more men to attend our weekly prayer meeting and to hear many more testimonies such as these. 

 

In the coming weeks we will be walking through the book of Colossians, and this week Pastor Cliff led us in meditating on the first two verses of chapter 1 (below). 
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”
Reflections on this passage included that God had called Paul to himself, that we are all called to be faithful followers of Jesus, and that the only true peace and grace available to us comes from God himself.  We then moved into our time of prayer by getting our hearts right with God through silent and vocal confession, and then focusing outward through intercession for our church and surrounding communities of West Seattle. 

 

• Pray that God would use the “Pray Like Jesus” series to move the hearts of the those in our church to want to pray more and more.  Pray that we would better understand that we can “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).  Pray that our church would be steadfast in prayer (Col 4:2), and that God would continue to draw people into deeper prayer individually, in small communities/groups, and within the corporate church body.  Pray that God will bring more men on Wednesday mornings to pray.
• Pray that God would instill a heart of mission in everyone attending Mars Hill.  Pray for our community group leaders to have strength and perseverance as they continue to shepherd and encourage their groups to be on mission by reaching out to unbelievers in their lives, and by embracing parts of their communities through constant prayer and service. 
• Pray for the specific neighborhood in which God has sovereignly placed you (Acts 17:26,27), and the specific individuals that you have met in those places. 
• Pray that those attending Mars Hill will embrace the armor that God offers us (see Ephesians 6) and advance forward for the kingdom of Jesus Christ. 
• Pray that the hearts of the believers at Mars Hill would be focused on Jesus such that it becomes a joy to faithfully and sacrificially give of their time, talents, and treasure to the mission of Jesus Christ at Mars Hill (2 Corinthians 9:7).   
• Pray against Satan, his tricks, and divisive attempts to hamper the mission of Mars Hill and lead people astray from the truth.