For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.   
(Matthew 12:34)

My husband came home from a workshop for elders last month with an interesting article entitled “It Goes Without Saying.”* The author points out that church leaders sometimes fail to articulate vision and important goals because “it goes without saying.” For example, church leaders may not talk much about reaching the lost because they assume everyone embraces that goal – it goes without saying. The author warns that “important stuff cannot go long without saying. … It must be said repeatedly …”
 
I wonder if I make the same mistake in my prayer life. What is missing from my prayers because it goes without saying? Do I skip expressions of worship and praise because I assume God knows I recognize His worth? Do I overlook thanksgiving for the blessings of ordinary life because I assume God knows I’m grateful? And do I neglect these things because they do not fill my heart to overflowing? Take time this week to examine before the Lord what you might be omitting from your prayers because it goes without saying. And then say those things!
 
Here are more suggestions for prayer this week:
 
1.  Bring our pastors and other staff members before the Lord, praying for their work among us and their lives at home. Use the back of your bulletin to pray for them by name.
 
2.  The Selah Dance Company, a Calvary outreach led by Jamie Gilbert, holds its end-of-the-year ballet recital on Saturday. Ask the Lord to strengthen each Selah family. Pray that the character and faith lessons the girls have learned in their classes will be lasting.
 
3.  How many young people do you know who are graduating from high school, college, or graduate school this season? Ask God to lead them in the next chapter of life according to His purposes. For the graduates who are believers, pray that nothing – not growing independence or busyness or new friends or anything else – will draw them away from the Lord. For the graduates who are not believers, pray that they will discover that achievements are empty without a relationship with the King of the universe.
 
4.  According to Isaiah, the people of Judah responded to Yahweh’s prophets by saying, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions … stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” (30:11) Pray that the church across America would be purified of this attitude, that we would welcome the Lord’s message with sincere and humble hearts.
 
5.  Be faithful in praying for the men of our TLC program. Pray for perseverance in overcoming addiction, diligence in completing the requirements of the program, and – most of all – real faith that produces a changed life.
 
6.  VBS is only six weeks away. The team is shifting into high gear as they prepare Bible lessons, music and drama, crafts, games, missions activities, and more. Ask the Lord to provide what is still needed in terms of people and materials. Ask Him to use every bit of effort put into VBS and every person involved for His glory and His kingdom.
 
7.  Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus, and Philip brought his friend Nathanael. In whose life could you be the one to say, “Come and see”? Ask the Lord to shine His light through you to others.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert, Prayer Chair
Calvary Community Church of Brea