Author Archive: Craig

From Fear to Alignment

December 8, 2021 0 Comments

God doesn’t just give people a front row seat to His work; He calls us into participation with Him.

Read Luke 1:26-38

26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.”

38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.


When God reveals and calls, prayer can be a conversation with many movements. Like Mary we may move through fear/agitation, and inquiry/dialogue, before we get to relinquishment/alignment.

Mary is agitated by Gabriel’s greeting. vs. 29

Mary inquires, “How will this be?” vs. 34

Mary aligns herself with God; “I am the Lord’s servant. Mary your word to me be fulfilled.”

Others have been through these movements as well. Daniel, Moses, Gideon, Zechariah, even Jesus. Like Zechariah we may need months to get there. Like Mary we may “get there” quickly.

Notice how the movement in prayer is towards “Yes Lord, may your Word be fulfilled.” However, the “movement” is not necessarily about resolution but is instead about relationship: being with God.



Explore this movement in prayer further.

Prayer

, ,

Prayer of the People, Advent Week 2, 5 Dec 2021

December 6, 2021 0 Comments

Heavenly Father, 

You have brought us into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We praise you for this grace. You have brought us from the darkness and into your light. Now may you enlighten our minds. Now May your word give light to our paths.

Praise you! Our souls glorify You; You are magnificent! You delivered us from slavery and into freedom from sin at such great cost. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for taking up flesh. Thank you for laying  down your life for us at the cross. Oh Jesus we glorify you!

Our senses we so numb — we did not know were slaves to sin till the good news quickened our conscience and we grieved the death we could not shake off. Now you are making us new creations. Now our trust is in you. Now we have a hunger for your Word and a desire to do your will.

Come Lord Jesus. Have mercy on us. Grant us the joy of your salvation and lead us in how to live in view of your great promises: we must live as you lived.

Heavenly Father, we are concerned — for the tasks we have taken up weigh on us. Help us with our studies. This world you have made is so beautiful! There’s more to it than facts and figures — yet there are a lot of those to learn! Help us develop the skills to steward what you have entrusted to us, help us develop the character needed for courageous love.

Lord we lift up people whose dignity and glory as dearly loved and precious creations of God has been forgotten. We lift up people on the journey for refuge from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Syria. Please send your kindness to these dear people and free them from hate and despair.

A generation is rising up that desires morality but is not sure yet of the One from whom it proceeds. Oh, Lord grow this desire. Let your peace reign so we would all walk in the joy of your love and delight. Reveal Yourself to them in the night and in the day ‘till hearts are softened and the Holy Spirit has His way.

(Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.)

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one;

for yours is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory, 

forever. 

Amen.

Prayer

,

Prayer of the People, Advent, 28 Nov 2021

November 29, 2021 0 Comments

Heavenly Father — We rejoice in your presence. We have arrived at your throne of Grace ushered in by the Spirit and given access by your Son, Jesus. We thank you for the joy of your salvation and your eternal communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

On this first Sunday of Advent we are grateful that Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith has entered into our situation and the frailties of our flesh. Though, we may find our selves asking, “How long?”

How long Lord shall the wicked prosper? How long Lord shall our hearts be tested? How long will the push and pull of climate and gravity create troubles? How long will we feel torn between the old and the new?

For some in our congregation today these questions are not theoretical. Our brothers and sisters groan under the weight of anxiety and we lift them up to you Lord. 

Come now, Holy Spirit and breathe peace.

For some in our campus the pursuit of security and the conviction of their conscience weighs heavily on them. Come now Lord Jesus and be their Saviour.

For some in our Province the destructive powers of nature and storms have displaced them and is exacting a terrible toll. Oh Father, be their comfort and help.

As leaders assemble and people are mobilized across this land we pray that you would grant wisdom for rebuilding. We ask that you would move hearts to release resources. In the neighbourhoods that are hosting people we pray that you would fortify them with hospitality. We pray that You would create spaces of welcome, healing and refuge. 

We need You and so we pray as Jesus teaches us.

(Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.)

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one;

for yours is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory, forever. 

Amen.

Prayer

, ,

Prayer of the People, 14 Nov 2021

November 15, 2021 0 Comments

Prayer of the People, 14 Nov 2021

Heavenly Father, 

You have brought us into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We praise you for this grace. You have brought us from darkness and into your light. Our souls have been made alive by you. In fact — you woke us up.

Praise to the Father. Praise to the Son. Praise to the Spirit.
Praise to our God — the great Three in One.

Our souls glorify You; You are magnificent!

Thank you! Jesus when we heard of your great love for us — faith in you rose up in us. Finally there is someone worthy and fully able to heal our souls. 

You delivered us from slavery and into freedom from sin at such great cost. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for taking up flesh. Thank you for laying down your life for us at the cross. 

Our senses we so numb — we did not know were slaves to sin till the good news quickened our conscience and we grieved the death we could not shake off. Now you are making us new creations. Now our trust is in you. Now we have a hunger for your Word and a desire to do your will.

Come Lord Jesus. Have mercy on us. Grant us the joy of your salvation.

Heavenly Father, we are concerned — for the tasks we have taken up weigh on us. Help us with our studies. Help us with our work. This world you have made is so beautiful! There’s more to it than facts and figures — yet there are a lot of those to learn! Help us develop the skills to steward what you have entrusted to us, help us develop the character needed for courageous love.

Lord we lift up people whose dignity and glory as dearly loved and precious creations of God has been forgotten. We lift up people on the journey for refuge who are stuck between Belarus and Poland. Grant them safe passage. Lift up their hearts. Speak to them in the night and minister to them.

Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one;

for yours is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.

Prayer

Prayer of the People, 7 Nov 2021

November 8, 2021 0 Comments

Heavenly Father, 

We are looking to you for wisdom and for power to love well. Your perfect love casts out fear. We praise you for the Mighty power displayed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ your Son! You have defeated all the powers of death. May your Holy Spirit enliven us for life in your communion— the communion of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Give us grace to join in the pursuit of your will by aligning our affections with the character and name of Jesus. In baptism we have been united with Him in His death, burial and resurrection! Oh Lord speak to us by your Word and Spirit that we might truly live.

We are opening our hearts to you. Forgive us for being hardhearted, shallow, and so easily distracted from the word you have planted in us. We acknowledge that there is a spiritual battle for our fully hearted surrender to you as Lord.

We lift up your servants serving under pressure in Belarus, Ethiopia, Israel, Iran and Mexico. Empower your church to share their lives and the Gospel. 


In Canada and here at UBC we pray that you would raise up people who are ready and willing to share their lives in discipling relationships. Lord we ask you bring this  generation of students the grace of salvation and life in You. We pray that your Kingdom would come here and so we pray as Jesus taught us…


Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever. 
Amen.

Prayer