“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!   I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’   “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’  I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”   Luke 18:10-14 NLT

 I’ve used a simple structure for prayer at many times in my life called ACTS in Prayer.  As we pray for LIGHT, our Christmas services on December 22 & 23, we’ll use ACTS in Prayer as a guide.  (Refer to Dec. 2-7 for an explanation of ACTS in Prayer if you need it)  Please spend a few moments doing each of these…

A = Adoration

C = Confession

T = Thanksgiving

S = Supplication

One of the keys to answered prayer is genuine humility.  As you spend time praying today maybe it would be good to ask God if there’s anything sinful in your attitudes or actions that He needs to reveal to you.  Ask Him to point out a relationship you need to make right or an attitude that’s harmful to you and those you love.   If God brings something or someone to your heart and mind, confess it to Him and determine to do your part to make it right with others.  Ask Him to help you demonstrate an attitude of humility in all your relationships.

As you pray for LIGHT, ask God to help people humble themselves before Him.  Many times it’s pride that keeps people from opening their hearts to Jesus.  Satan will tempt them to think they don’t need to do this or they’ve not really done anything wrong.   Pray for the work of our enemy Satan to be thwarted in the lives of those who attend LIGHT; that their hearts & minds will be humble before God and they’ll respond to Jesus in humility.

Christmas Fun, Jokes, Trivia

What large former retail outlet commissioned and published Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?   (answer tomorrow)