Prayer for Today, Wednesday, July 13

God of all peoples and places,

Conflicts seem to rage within us, O Lord. There are times when our multiple loyalties pull us in different ways and each demands our time and resources. We want to serve the needs of our nation, our communities, our job, our family, our friends and our church. Our priorities are rearranged by circumstance and need. Unfortunately we place our devotion and service us to You near the bottom of the list. Forgive us we pray. Help us, Dear God, to open our hearts to You so that You might sooth our souls and give us clear direction. We hear Jesus’ words when he said “But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” May seek You, O God. In Jesus name we pray. AMEN.
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The General Assembly come to a close today and Carolyn and I are headed back to Enid. It has been a wonderful experience. I am energized and hopeful.

Tonight is WWNF.

The Board Retreat is this Saturday and our first Board meeting of the new program year is one week from today.

The scripture for today is Romans 5:1-11:
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Grace and peace,

John McLemore