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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Meant for Good
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them…
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19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. – Genesis 50:19-21
We talked about this passage in Sunday School this past week. I needed to hear it. I was still stewing over a conversation I listened to on Saturday. And when thinking about that, I started to go down my list of other frustrations. I continued to wrestle with God about them last night and they followed me into the office today.
And yet, I was reminded that God is Good, all the time; the call and response I repeated to several folks this morning, as it brought me back to this passage. I’ve got nothing to complain about. My life is blessed. I just pray that my eyes and heart are open to the blessings God has surrounded me with.
Lord, tonight I pray for the body of Christ in Memphis. I pray that we remember these words. That we are encouraged by one another. That we take these words to heart, even when we are the target of aggression or bad intentions.
Lord, You are bigger than all of our problems. Remind us that even after the fall of this world, You have overcome it, and we, as Your children and beneficiaries of your mercy and grace, participate in that victory. In Christ’s name, Amen.
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Ride 2 Rosemary
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 These seventy men along with support teams have completed their Ride to Rosemary. Awesome accomplishment. Over 5 days, the men ride 500+ miles from Memphis to Rosemary Beach, Florida, raising money for cancer research and strengthening a brotherhood. Hours of training, battling hills and demons,…
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As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17These seventy men along with support teams have completed their Ride to Rosemary. Awesome accomplishment. Over 5 days, the men ride 500+ miles from Memphis to Rosemary Beach, Florida, raising money for cancer research and strengthening a brotherhood. Hours of training, battling hills and demons, prepare these men for the trek.
If you know one of these men, you may know some of their story. Not everyone gets to participate from what I’ve been told. They have lost parents, siblings, spouses, and children. They have faced addiction. They have faced the wilderness. And they are conquerors.
Lord, thank you for these men and the lives they are leading. You are showing them Your love through others riding beside them. You have used discomfort to make them stronger. You have shown up where they are wounded and made them strong.
We ask that you watch over those injured in a wreck during this year’s ride. We ask that the glory of Your love overcome the stiffness and saddle sores over the next few days. Bless these men as they return to their routines. May they come back stronger and with a heightened sense of purpose. Use the funds raised to find cures for cancer but don’t stop the impact at dollars contributed. Use these men to be light for Your kingdom. In Christ’s name, amen.
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Helene Recovery Prayer
“For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.” Lamentations 3:31-32 Tonight we lift up those suffering in the wake of Helene. SO much hurting. So much loss. Our focus here is typically Memphis specific, but many Memphians have ties to those impacted.…
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“For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.” Lamentations 3:31-32Tonight we lift up those suffering in the wake of Helene. SO much hurting. So much loss. Our focus here is typically Memphis specific, but many Memphians have ties to those impacted. They are also collecting goods and helping with recovery efforts.
https://www.actionnews5.com/2024/10/05/truckloads-helene-relief-donations-heading-out-shelby-county
This story mentions Sidecar Cafe, Bumpus Harley-Davidson, and NVS Dance Studio. The Salvation Army of Memphis and the Mid South has sent teams to East TN to help.
Here’s a list of charities and organizations screened by my church’s denomination. https://globalmethodist.org/join-us-in-supporting-hurricane-helene-recovery-efforts/
Lord, the cries don’t cease and neither do You. Helene’s destruction scares us, shakes us, brings us to our knees. Lord, we wonder why. Why now? Why this place? We don’t shy away from those questions.
But we are also called to be Your hands and feet. May you bless those at work caring for and participating in the recovery efforts. Thank you for those men and women in our community finding ways to help. May you protect those in harm’s way. May you encourage those who have lost material possessions and loved ones. Be close. Father, bring peace.
In this time of finger-pointing and blame, bring calm. Bring trustworthy individuals and leaders to the forefront. Break down walls in hardened hearts so that Christ’s love may be felt.
Lord, we pray for relief crews, volunteers and government agencies, that they may work together for those they are trying to serve. We pray that resources get to those in need. Lord, we lift up the flooded and damaged towns to You, that you may heal them. In Christ’s name, Amen
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A Prayer for 901 Community Fridges
Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. – Isaiah 58:10-14 I saw an article on Memphis Community Fridges last week in the Daily Memphian. Here is their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/901communityfridges/ It is exactly what…
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Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. – Isaiah 58:10-14
I saw an article on Memphis Community Fridges last week in the Daily Memphian. Here is their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/901communityfridges/
It is exactly what it sounds like. There are refrigerators set up throughout the city, stocked by and maintained by volunteers and users. It’s a sweet movement in the community of caring for the least, and respecting the dignity of the least.
“901 Community Fridges is committed to fighting food insecurity in Memphis by partnering with neighborhoods to place fridges stocked with food and sundries in areas where it’s needed most. Get involved today!” is stated on their Facebook. The fridges are located ar 1000 Cooper, 360 Tillman, 685 S Highland, 7400 Cordova Club Dr, and 1170 Mullins Station.
L.J. Abraham is the founder but a multitude stocks and maintains the fridges.
Lord, thank you for these neighbors. Thank you for L. J. Abraham for seeing a need and trying to meet it. Thank you for the grace and ease into which we can serve and love our fellow man. Lord, thank you for all those who support and tend these fridges.
Protect them Lord. May they be the manna for those in need. Keep them operating through good weather and bad. Prevent bad forces from taking advantage of them. Lord, provide what’s needed, when it’s needed. You always do. Amen.
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Proverbs 11
11 The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him. 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. 4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. 5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths…
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11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,
but accurate weights find favor with him.2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them;
all the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.8 The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and it falls on the wicked instead.9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but victory is won through many advisers.15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.19 Truly the righteous attain life,
but whoever pursues evil finds death.20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.25 A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
but evil comes to one who searches for it.28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the one who is wise saves lives.31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!May we pray into this scripture on this day. Amen.