Have you ever noticed that the first person pronouns in the Lord’s prayer are not singular – me, I – but rather plural – us, we?  Not, Give me my daily bread, but rather, Give us our daily bread.  It suggests to me that my prayers should be for all believers, not just myself and those close to me. I should want for all my brothers and sisters the good things I ask for myself. 

Part of me resists this. It seems vague and somehow ineffective to pray for all believers as a group, too close to the flaccid prayer, Dear God, bless everybody. But maybe my reservations stem from American individualism, not biblical truth. Maybe praying in the plural is one manifestation of unity in the body of Christ.   
 
We may pray as individuals this week, but we don’t have to pray individualistically. Let’s substitute plural for singular as we ask our Father for provision, forgiveness, and deliverance.    
 
Here are some suggested prayer items for this week:
 
1.  Lift up the special service of prayer and worship scheduled for Wednesday evening. May we as a body take this opportunity to commit to the Lord all the groups and activities that are starting afresh, for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom. Ask God to remove barriers that might keep you and other members of the Calvary family from attending.
 
2.  Be faithful in praying for Dave and Carrie Tebayduring their 2-month sabbatical. I suspect that few of us fully realize the challenges and strains a senior pastor and his family experience. Take time to think about that before the Lord and to thank Him for the Tebays’ ministry among us. Pray that this time away will be a source of refreshment and renewed vision for them.
 
3.  Pray for our other pastors – Paul Bautts, Todd Dixon, and Andrew Mahler – and staff as they carry Dave’s load of responsibilities as well as their own.
 
4.  The ESL Bible study begins a 16-week study of the Sermon on the Mount on Friday. Pray that the 26 Chinese students will have the courage to speak English, even when they make mistakes, and that they will grow in their faith. Pray that the students who are not believers will hear, understand, and embrace the gospel during the study. 
 
5.  Wendy Chen was one of the most enthusiastic participants in the spring session of the ESL Bible study. She started chemotherapy for stomach cancer last week. Ask the Lord to arm Wendy with strength, to be her shield and rock. (Psalm 18:30-32) And please pray for Wendy’s husband, Jim, who is not a believer. It is Wendy’s great desire that he would come to know the Lord as he watches how she responds in faith to this trial.
 
6.  Baby Alasdair (“A.J.”) Gilbert was hospitalized at CHOC last week because his congenital heart defect had caused his blood oxygen levels to drop to potentially dangerous levels. He underwent surgery yesterday to install a temporary shunt to improve his circulation. The surgery appeared to be successful, but his oxygen levels did not rise as expected and the surgeon had to go back in.  The shunt seems to be working better now but, after two surgeries in one day, A.J. is one sick baby. Pray for little A.J. and for his very tired parents, Jamie and Keith.
 
7.  Based on Isaiah 30:21, pray this for yourself and for the whole body of Christ:  Whether we turn to the right or to the left, may our ears hear a voice behind us saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

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