Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me (Psalm 51:10,12).
Today is the first day of the SECOND retreat. The above is our prayer for each attendee and each volunteer. Lord Jesus, we anticipate Your wellspring of blessing. Envelope each woman from the second they arrive to when they leave with a deep sense of Your presence,love, joy, and grace.
One of the ladies shared that she is “looking for contentment and a renewing of excitement and inspiration in my ministry and in my personal relationship with God. Please pray that I return to the love which I first had for this calling on my life”. I’m sure that all the attendees would echo her request. Holy Spirit, penetrate Stephanie, Joyce, Gail, and Elisabeth‘s souls, and each of the attendees to renew their spirits and joy of their salvation.
One cannot help but be overwhelmed by the numbers associated with the country of China. Over 1.3 billion people in the third largest country in the world. Some estimates have the number of Christians approaching 300 million, reflecting incredible growth in spite of a government that obsesses on control. Many cross-cultural workers from a wide range of countries are in China spreading the good news but not in traditional ways. From teaching English to compassion ministries, men and women are being used by God to reach this massive population. As the country continues on its road in becoming the world’s economic giant, many feel that the window of receptive hearts will be closing. Materialism may prove to be a far greater enemy of the gospel than any repressive regime. We pray that the church would continue to grow in spite of official persecution within the church house movement as well as the temptation of softening one’s witness in the churches officially recognized.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
© 2013 Thrive.