A prayer for new vision
Over the past several months, Leadership Council have committed themsevles to specific times for prayer, fasting, and discernment as the North American BIC Church looks ahead to 2020. Ken Letner, bishop of the Susquehanna Conference, has shared a 2020 Vision Prayer from a fasting time from the morning of 7/5/07. We now share it with you.
You will find me when you seek me with all your heart!
As a church group, one of the many of the world, you want to use us to build your Kingdom. I believe there is a special part of your Kingdom work you have for us for these next ten years, 2010-2020. I know, Lord, you don't function with such designated blocks. It's for our benefit to think accordingly. In our finiteness we can only focus in such blocks.
CONTINUE ON! PRESS ON!
Lord, are we to keep our focus? How shall we adjust it? Is there a particular nuance you want us to highlight that emphasizes our meager role in you Kingdom work?
Oh Lord, I cry out to you on behalf of my brothers and sisters who are a part of your family called the Brethren in Christ. In and of ourselves we are only a meager group of people, humbled to be yours. We are humbled to even think of being used in your great Kingdom work. To think that you, the Ruler, Master, Lord of the universe, would choose to call us to yourself, to grace us with gifts and a hue of your message, and to ask us to be and do the ways of the gospel only humbles us that much more! Oh Lord, indeed, we are nothing without you. We need your guiding light, your gentle nudges, and your omniscient perspective to serve when and where you desire.
Lord, forgive us for the arrogance of thinking we are important, that our message is the message, that somehow we have a corner on your truth. Forgive us for self-exultation that causes us to get so wrapped up in our ways rather than yours. Forgive us for any hint of desire or action that expands "BICdom" at the expense of pure, righteous motives and actions that build your world. Forgive me Lord! Lord, I think over the generations before now and many of the errors and hurts caused by church leaders that may be affecting our present days. Forgive us for our sin, manipulation, impurities, isolation, arrogance and pride, stubbornness and rebellion, waste, disrespect, quenching the Spirit. Forgive our ways and the ways of our forefathers. Pour out your mercy and grace to your humble, broken, penitent servants as we place ourselves in your hand, for your work.
Show us Lord where and how you want us to fit into your plan—small, great, visible or inconspicuous. In these last days may we be
• people of character - like David, faithfully serving the flock;
• people of the call - like Abraham ready to go and do whatever to lay on the altar our most prized possessions and values;
• people of renewal - like Paul, able to see and hear spiritually beyond our years and to respond with compassion and a missionary heart that elicits obedience no matter what;
• people of intimacy - like John, the beloved, loving you and others even the unlovable.
And yes, Lord, I echo your prayer for unity. Oh that we may be one, all pulling in the right direction. Oh God, show us what is right! May our thoughts and gifts, be they ever so diverse, be unified in you. Oh Lord, fill us with your Spirit which is the greatest unifier so that the world may know you, your goodness, your love. May we be one!
Lord, I feel so insignificant and humbled in thinking my prayer could even be heard let alone answered by you. Who am I that you are mindful of me, that you hear me when I call on behalf of this family of people you've placed me in? Who am I to call upon you? Yet, our only hope for direction is from you. Therefore, with a holy, broken boldness, I ask you on behalf of our BIC family for help. I hear your word:
I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out. Plans to take care of you, and not abandon you. Plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want me more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed. (Jeremiah 29:11-13 The Message)
Even with such a word of assurance, I praise you, for it is your faithfulness that is certain, your ear that hears our cries, your provision that is enough. Indeed, it is about you! There is none like you! No one else can touch our hearts like you do! I could search for all eternity and find there is none like you!
So Lord, show us your way for us as we seek you, praise you, exalt you, wait upon you.
Amen
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