Praying for God’s Leading: Philippians 1:9-11
Shaping a time of prayer for dwelling with Bible texts, prayer responses, songs of faith, and a concluding benediction.
A part of a series of prayer resources for those who are actively seeking God's leading in times of vocational discernment, including employers or search team members selecting new employees, students choosing a college or a major or a job after graduation, and people at every stage of life making choices about when to say yes and no. Each contribution in this series is an invitation to "pray our way deeply into scripture," letting the imagery and convictions of particular scripture texts inform our own prayers. The series as a whole is an invitation to explore multiple, complementary scripture texts over time as we seek to walk in step with God's Spirit. Each resource also features musical meditations from over 50 years of music making at Calvin University.
Orienting Scripture Text
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth. -Psalm 121:8
Quiet Reflection
Prayer
Spirit of the Living God,
When we are actively seeking to discern you call in our lives,
remind us: our help is in the name of the Lord.
When we feel helpless,
remind us: our help is in the name of the Lord,
When we feel like we do not need help,
remind us: our help is in the name of the Lord,
When we feel despair,
remind us: our help is in the name of the Lord.
When we feel confident in your leading,
remind us: our help is in the name of the Lord.
And then help us rest assured
that this help is sufficient and abundant,
coming from the One without whom nothing is,
the One in whom in we live and move and have our being—
even you, Lord, our Lord.
How magnificent is your name in all the earth!
Amen.
Central Scripture Text
And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. -Philippians 1:9-11
Quiet Reflection
A Prayer Response to Philippians 1:9-11
Almighty and loving God,
send your Holy Spirit to guide each of us
who is seeking to discern what to do or whom to choose.
Give us a love in such an abundance that it can’t be contained
--a love for you,
a love for your Word,
and a love for those we serve with, learn with, and live with.
May your Spirit add to this love
the knowledge and deep insights we need
to convict and nurture us.
Help us discern what is best,
not simply for our own sake,
but for the sake of the fruit you long for us to bear
for your glory
and for the sake of the world you so dearly love.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Quiet Reflection
Musical Reflections
- 2020 Calvin University Gospel Choir: "Trust Me" (Calvin University Gospel Choir, Nate Glasper, conductor; Lisa Sung, accompanist)
- 2020 Calvin University Women’s Chorale: "Prayer of St. Francis" (Calvin University Women's Chorale, Pearl Shangkuan, conductor)
Quiet Reflection
Blessing
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13