SCRIPTURE. REFLECTION. PRAYER FOR OUR CITY.
Let’s pray
for Memphis.
join us in lifting up the city we love, block by block.
THE PRAYER JOURNAL
Prayers for Memphis
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Get out of the boat
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell…
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25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:25-30
Lord, tonight we lift up those who get out of the boat, the Peters willing to test their faith. We pray for the churches in retail centers and bi-vocational pastors, the man holding up the Yeshua sign at Poplar intersections, the prayer lunches, breakfasts, and meetings that are not announced to large audiences, but lived out quietly. Lord, we pray for the men and women who each day get out of the boat to watch over their neighbors and care for the downtrodden. We pray for the men and women who show up to do their jobs, working for You and not for man. Their names are not mentioned in the paper, on tv, or major social media accounts. They just know that Your name is written on their heart. Bless them and hear their prayers.
Lord, we pray for the strength and the courage that Peter displayed, and for the faith You intended him to have when he took those steps towards You. Lord, instead of us asking “Who is going to change Memphis for the better”, may we change the question to “Why not us?” Lord, work in our hearts and minds. Forgive us of our sins. Bring Your people together to love this city and our neighbors. In Christ’s name, amen.
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Power Source
Psalm 146 1 Praise the Lord.[a] Praise the Lord, my soul. 2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.3 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to…
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Psalm 146
1 Praise the Lord.[a]
Praise the Lord, my soul.
2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.10 The Lord reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.Praise the Lord.
Lord, please encourage those in Memphis without power tonight. We pray for MLGW, that their teams and line crews are able to get power back on for those impacted in north Memphis and eastern Shelby County form the recent storms. We pray for relief from the heat, at least for those most vulnerable to high temperatures, that they may be cared for. May they have someone to call for transportation to cooling centers or friends and family that can take them in.
Lord, You do not disappoint. We can focus on ourselves and our means, but You are God. We pray for this city Lord, for a spiritual awakening, for the Holy Spirit to pour out onto the streets. We pray Lord, for reckless driving and disrespect towards traffic laws to stop. Stop the 360s and burnouts in intersections. Stop the young men hanging out of windows while speeding on the highway. Lord, speak into their hearts that the danger they seek is nothing compared to the adventure You want to lead them on.
We are a lost people. We see Your glory and immediately cry out for reprieve. Don’t let us turn form You. Lord, open our eyes to the plight of our neighbors, speak truth into our hearts regarding who needs, and is willing, to receive our help, so that we may be Your hands and feet. We seek thriving community, Lord. We seek wholeness. Lord, may we seek You while we await the New Jerusalem. In Christ’s name, amen.
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Now Freely Give
“5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive…
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“5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew 10: 5-8
The version of the Bible I had while growing up says “now freely give.” It adds that oomph that Jesus is commanding. Don’t freely give at some point in time; do it now. It’s also awesome what the disciples are tasked with here. Proclaim the kingdom’s arrival, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons.
Can we not say we are asked to do the same today? Now, do we act that way? I don’t. I get grumpy after a few red lights in a row or some faceless person in the back office messes up something that impacts my work. (Rarely, is it my fault, and, I would suggest that none of your irritants are a result of your actions either, dear reader. Wink.)
So to read these words, to sense the excitement the disciples must have had, the nervous energy they would have had, expecting and being a part of divine interactions, is hard to imagine. Most of the time, I’m scared. I lack boldness. I forget to ask God to be a part of each moment.
These words, the reminders, the understanding of the disciples’ humanity, give me hope. If Jesus commanded these men to be cup bearers of God’s love and power, He means it for us as well.
Tonight, I lift up you, my neighbor, that we may be encouraged by the gifts and strength we have been given by God, the Father, and the knowledge that we, too, have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Lord, open our eyes to the many ways your disciples of today are carrying out the same work as the twelve did centuries ago. Lord, speak into our lives, that we may live with nervous expectation of God’s good works. We pray that we may bring those good works to our neighbors, to our brothers and sisters who don’t know Your love for them yet, and to those who do but whose spirits are burdened.
Lord, we pray for that spirit and boldness for Your children in Memphis and beyond. We pray that prayer groups, formal ones organized by churches, and informal ones, run by Your children, witness the power of Christ today and again tomorrow. God, we have received freely, and are thankful for it. Now lead us in giving freely. Amen.
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June 15
A friend mentioned matching a Proverb with the day so I’ll do that now. 15 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. 3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. 4 The…
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A friend mentioned matching a Proverb with the day so I’ll do that now.
15 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings ruin.7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the hearts of fools are not upright.8 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.11 Death and Destruction[a] lie open before the Lord—
how much more do human hearts!12 Mockers resent correction,
so they avoid the wise.13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with turmoil.17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,
but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.20 A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,
but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—
and how good is a timely word!24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.26 The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but gracious words are pure in his sight.27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
but the one who hates bribes will live.28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
will be at home among the wise.32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,
and humility comes before honor.Lord, we pray this proverb to You today for all of Memphis. Each of us Lord, needs reminding of Your truths. In Christ’s Name, amen.
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Put Hope in His Word
Psalm 130 A song of ascents. 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;2 Lord, hear my voice.Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 5 I wait for the Lord, my…
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Psalm 130
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.Lord, tonight we lift up Memphis to You. We ask that you blot out our sins and remove our transgressions. We pray for a people whose hearts are convicted of their sin and seek the Lord. We pray for healing of the broken. We pray for forgiveness. We pray for these grounds to be redeemed, from Whitehaven to Frayser, from Downtown to Eads and Collierville. We ask that the Lord be in this place.
Lord, I pray for a team of committed Christians to begin contributing prayers to this website because I can’t carry it on my own. I pray for assistance and thank you for those who have contributed and continue to work on it behind the scenes. I pray for teaching and mentoring in the prayer life. I pray that this website can be a blessing to Memphis and those who read the prayers. Lord, shine Your light on the good being done in this city. Lord, show us where we need the light, so that Your laborers can get to work.
We do not shun work Lord. We do not shun responsibility. Lord, we ask for accountability, covered in Your grace, so that we may build and live in a city that knows the love of Jesus. Lord, even if many disagree, may they be forced to acknowledge our good works. But Lord, may we do all in love, seeking You with all our hearts. In Christ’s name, Amen.