Pastor Mary Haley

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.
Reflection: Hungering for the Best

Digging for Truth: Over the years, I have received some of the most amazing gifts from loved ones and friends. I have valued and treasured each gift, because I knew they flowed from hearts of love. However, as much as I have valued these gifts of time, handmade gifts or purchased gifts, they cannot compare with the Father’s Gift for me of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said the Spirit was the best Gift ever; so, I need to value my Helper and hunger and thirst for what he brings to my life.

Grace for the Heart: If we are going to walk in the power of the Spirit, we must understand the great value of our Gift. Nothing in life could be better. The Helper brings us an awareness of God’s love, produces the fruit of the Spirit in us, convicts us when we are not consistent with the likeness of Christ, fills us with strength for our weaknesses, liberates us from lousy and destructive habits, fills us with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and brings healing to our spirits, souls [mind/will/emotions] and our bodies. When we hunger and thirst for these righteous things, we are positioned to receive the Helper (John 7:38-39).

Luke 11:13 NLT  So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Challenge: Jesus tells us to ask. So, let’s begin by asking for the gift of hungering and thirsting knowing it leads us to acknowledge and value the Best Gift God desires to give us. To ask, seek, and knock is really a command; we are desiring a Gift in agreement with God’s will (1 John 5:14-15).

Prayer: Lord, we want to be mighty spiritual fruit bearers and we need the Helper. So, we come thirsty for the Living Water of the Spirit and ask for you to call us to drink. We come hungry for the Spirit of righteousness and ask for you to feed us the Living Bread. We long for the joy of spiritually dining at your holy table and living life with the Helper. Please fill us with the Spirit, Lord, because we hunger for the Best. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper
Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Am I Waiting for Explosion of Power?

Digging for Truth: Let’s remember the world was in trouble and that is the reason the Father sent the Son…and the Son sent the Helper. Salvation is from God. Evil seeks to bring a moral and ethical decline to society and culture; but, God works to restore order, honor, and wholeness. With this in mind, as ministers of the healing gospel, God’s children need some power to thwart the ongoing chaotic work of darkness. We need the Helper.

Grace for the Heart: In the first two chapters of the Book of Acts, we know there is an explosion of power awaiting the disciples. The Helper arrives. The Spirit settles on the disciples and fills them with the nature of God and a holy passion to share the gospel. The moment the disciples become a host for the Helper, he brings maturity and understanding as the disciples begin to respond to the direction of God.

The Helper does more than regenerate our souls, he brings an awareness of Christ in us to our society and culture. As we look back through time, we know the God of history is the God of our today. We, too, can enjoy an explosion of power and a personal Pentecost in our temple, because God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).
Ezekiel 36:26-27 NTL 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart [heart of flesh]. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

Challenge: If God commands our obedience, he makes a way for us to become obedient. If God commands we follow him, he will provide and open doors. God’s Word accomplishes everything it is sent to do in order to carry out his plan (Isaiah 55:11). Let’s remember God’s power is supreme and it is always driven by his goodness. “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done” (Isaiah 43:13 NLT).

Prayer: Lord, we ask you to send an explosion of power into our temples; fill us and flood our beings with your beautiful and glorious presence. Give us a passion to share the gospel. Please make our hearts tender and responsive to your Voice and help us to obey and follow your lead. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: How is God with Me?

Digging for Truth: God is Father, Son, and is presently in believers as God the Holy Spirit. As believers, God is with us and we are never alone. Never. Jesus promises his loving presence will be with his disciples to care for us even to the end of the age; he does so through the Holy Spirit (Mat 28:20). Truthfully, our Holy Helper is adequate to provide everything we need as his children who are called out of the world; we do not identify with a sinful world. Think about that statement for a moment. We are in the world temporarily; but, we identify as a Kingdom people—God’s very own possession—who have been called out of the darkness into his glorious light (1 Peter 2:9).

Grace for the Heart: We are God’s children; adopted and saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9). “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Romans 8:14). We grow in faith and become sons and daughters as we obediently follow in Christ’s footsteps. We are no longer spiritually orphaned; we have been reconnected with our Father, the Son, and the indwelling Spirit of love. The Helper bears witness to our spirits that we are God’s children (Romans 8:16).

John 14:18  No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.

Challenge: He has come to us through the Helper. God promises to direct our paths. “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left”’ (Isaiah 30:21). Listen to his righteous voice of truth. He is always speaking.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making us your priceless possession. You did not leave us orphaned in a wicked world; instead, you came to adopt us and love us into wholeness by speaking guidance and direction into our lives. Thank you for being our Comforter and Helper. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: How Do I Receive Him?

Digging for Truth: Just as Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit, our faith will be led into places where we must press in for more in our relationship with God. In these times, we are learning how to trust in God’s promise to provide. Repentance that leads to forgiveness is the way of salvation the Lord offers; but there is an additional flow of blessing that comes as we follow Jesus—our Example. Jesus offers humble followers God’s power, through the Helper, to be victorious even in the midst of life’s greatest challenges; power for the present and the future. Having a form of godliness might be achieve in the flesh. However, receiving the power of God, through the Helper, leads to transformation and personal testimony; a whole new way of knowing God and experiencing his anointing to do what we cannot (2 Tim 3:5).

Grace for the Heart: In our passage today, we take a moment to reflect on the loving leadership of John the Baptizer—the prophet God used to bring a spiritual shift in the work and will of God to redeem creation. In the Old Testament, God accepted a blood sacrifice and obedience to the commands, because it revealed what was necessary to reconnect with God. Yet, no one could honor or please God by trying to fulfill the love commands through human effort; only the Son of God emulated sinless love. John called people to repentance and ritual baptism, but he clearly told those receiving this cleansing it was now time to follow Christ, because he would bring the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mat 3:11). Jesus himself proclaimed John as a great man, but only the Anointed One has the authority to extend the Helper to his faithful followers.

Acts 19:3 NLT 3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.”

Challenge: When Christ’s Spirit lives in us, we know him as a Person. We hear his Voice, we know divine direction, we love deeply and compassionately so we can be a helping hand to others, we testify about Christ, and lastly, we pray in agreement with God through the Spirit. By faith, we must ask Jesus to fill us with the Helper—God’s Spirit and Person of promise (Luke 11:13).

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the ongoing work of repentance and forgiveness that leads us into life with your Promise—the Helper. We asked you to fill us with the Holy Spirit to overflowing. Cleanse us, Lord. We desire to know you, follow you, love you, love and serve others as we testify to your life in us, and we want to pray in agreement with the Spirit to see your Kingdom power released in the wilderness of this sinful world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper
Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Why Do I Need the Helper?

Digging for Truth: We do not know a great deal about Jesus during his childhood or his experiences prior to asking John to baptize him. Joseph raised Jesus and he was a carpenter; so, Jesus likely worked as an apprentice with him. But, when Jesus was baptized by John his work changed. Scripture teaches the Holy Spirit made his home in the heart of Christ’s bodily temple; this is called the anointing. From then on, Jesus—-the Anointed One—was focused on sharing the gospel message of salvation to the empty and broken souls around him. The Helper empowered everything Jesus was sent to do; so, Jesus was quick to instruct his disciples not to try to live or teach the gospel in their own strength. This is also our lesson to learn.

Grace for the Heart: In our passage for today, the apostles are instructed to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit who will help them be effective witnesses of everything they have seen and learned from Jesus. I am so grateful the Helper gives us the ability to witness to the Truth as we communicate with the people around us. All God’s children need the Helper, because we are called to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and to the Holy Spirit, teaching the Word of God, and to be witnesses of this Good News with our lives (Mat 28:19-20). Submission to the ways of Christ will bring peace with God. Broken and lost souls await the Good News we are sent to share and the Helper opens the door and brings the anointing!

Acts 1:3-11 NLT 3 During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with [in] water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

The Ascension of Jesus
6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Challenge: I pray for Christ’s followers across the globe to ask the Helper for opportunities to witness the Truth of salvation in Christ. Not only does the Good News bring a relationship with God, it is a whole new and righteous pathway for living. People do not need to remain wounded, broken, and empty in their souls, because the Holy Spirit is the Healer we carry. The Helper will open doors, bring opportunities, and help us become witnesses of this River of Life found only in Christ. God promised, “I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making the Helper available so we can effectively tell people you are alive and you love them. We can passionately tell others about your goodness and the salvation you offer. Please create a hunger and thirst for righteousness within us and prompt us to ask the Helper to make us witnesses everywhere we go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Today’s Reflection: Who is the Helper?

Digging for Truth: The Helper is the Holy Spirit—the third person of the Godhead. As a person, he has a godly mind with wisdom and knowledge, enjoys a personality with godly emotions, and always works for the will of Almighty God. This amazing person is on a quest to form God-glorifying relationships; therefore, he speaks, prays, teaches, works miracles, commands, forbids, and lastly can be resisted (John 14:26; Acts 1:16, 2:4, 7:51, 8:29, 39, 11:12, 13:2, 16:6,739: Romans 8:26, 27).

Grace for the Heart: I am so grateful to have the Holy Spirit serving as the Overseer of the Body of Christ, because he helps us use the spiritual gifts he imparts to Christ’s followers in order to exalt Christ as Lord. The Spirit always wants to glorify Jesus the Christ, so he reminds us of the Truth—Jesus is the Son of God and the Living Word. The Spirit illuminates the work of Christ to bring salvation and then lifts us from dead thinking, living, and works of the flesh. The Helper knows we were taken from the dust of the earth; however, “To all who mourn in Zion, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory (Isaiah 61:3). We can have no better Friend than the Helper!

John 14:16-17 NLT Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[Comforter, Encourager, Counselor] who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

Challenge: I pray for every heart to know the Helper. He is always willing to answer our cries for help and lead us toward the Truth. “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24 NLT).

Prayer: Lord, we need the Helper, because he is the Gift you have provided so we can know the reality of your heart. On this Ash Wednesday, we confess our need for you in every area of our lives. Please fill us and make yourself known to us today. We confess our sin and ask for you to forgive us, Lord. Help us to approach today differently. Help us to spend time in prayer, because we want to enjoy your presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Whether we profess faith in Christ or not, facing the truth about ourselves can be very difficult and uncomfortable. Typically, people want to avoid any form of discomfort and facing the truth about our fallen nature can be painful. Certainly, we can run away from the truth, blame others for our pain and demand our own way, or we can deny the truth all together and live a fantasy. God made us with the freedom of choice: the ability to live righteously [based on the Truth] or the ability to live foolishly [based on lies]. Building on the foundation of Truth will always produce a better life. Yet, with so many opposing choices, it is a temptation to try to live somewhere in the middle.

The middle grounds may seem like a safe position, but that is a fallacy. God calls every human being to choose whom he or she will serve; there is no third choice. We have been given freedom; however, if we want to make godly progress in life we must understand some things we think, act upon, or strive for are not the best for our lives, because Truth is a person and aligning with His character and nature must be the Christian’s goal.

As human beings, we have no hope of becoming godly—pleasing to God—in our own strength; but, because of Jesus and His righteousness and power, we can learn and grow in godliness as we are willing to face the Truth. This means we must place our faith in Christ to lead us in every choice we make, because each decision can bring a stronger connection to live in God’s power or each decision can bring a disconnect with God’s power. I believe if we are not making righteous choices to live in the power of the Spirit who brings revelation and helps us to face the Truth, we are making unrighteous choices that will ultimately lead to our destruction [Satan’s plan].

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul writes his letter to Timothy and the universal Church in order to encourage them to face the Truths of the Christian faith—godliness. We are human beings whose nature it is to self-serve and preserve, so we will allow our fallen nature to rule us unless the Spirit of Christ comes to live within us, convict us, and work to liberate us from sin. He alone can teach us how to live the Truth, because He is the Truth of godliness; He is the One who pleases Father God.
This is a beautiful picture of the love of God for His creation and family. You are so loved by Father God that He sent His Son to die for your sins, so His Spirit could teach you to live in the Truth. Please don’t try to live in the middle ground, because it will cost you fellowship with Christ, as well as the blessings of living in the Truth. What an awesome God!

1 Timothy 3:14-16 NLT The Truths of Our Faith
14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith [godliness]:
Christ was revealed in a human body
    and vindicated by the Spirit.
He was seen by angels
    and announced to the nations.
He was believed in throughout the world
    and taken to heaven in glory.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for all the ways you love us. Please bring your children into a humble place each day, so we can bow to the Truth as you reveal it. Nothing is better than living for you; no difficulty in life is more painful than living separated from you. Thank you for your mercy, grace, and faith to make righteous choices today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Do you ever feel timid about sharing the gospel message—God’s love given through the Christ—with others? Remember, we share the gospel through our witness in word and action. If you feel timid at times, you can relate to Timothy a young believer who was like a son to Paul. Even though Paul had a rather intense personality, young Timothy was actually reserved, as well as hesitant to take on the important responsibilities of caring for God’s people.

Timothy may have felt inadequate to lead others, but Paul understood what Christ had done in his own life, so he was able to see the potential in Timothy. Being around Paul may have been incredibly uncomfortable at times, but God connects us with one another to help us grow in faith and develop in the Truth of God’s merciful love. So, in teaching Timothy, Paul instructs all of us about the mercy of God to bring us a “new life” in Christ.

In our passage today, Paul humbly lays out his past in order to witness to Timothy and the Church—Body of Christ—about the merciful love of God he received but did not deserve due to his actions. Paul describes himself as the worst of “sinners” who essentially made God practice patience! Quite frankly, we all fit into that category of sinners with whom God has been patient.

So, never diminish yourself because of your sinful past. Instead, give your past to Jesus and choose to live in the “new life” of grace God has provided. We have not been saved by grace through faith, so we can continue to test the patience of God. We have been given a new way to live in Christ that lifts us out of dead living and into eternal life. Let’s keep our focus on living with our faith fixed on Jesus and where He wants to lead us now. Blessings for your weekend!

1 Timothy 1:12-20 NLT Paul’s Gratitude for God’s Mercy
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, 13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the humble candor of the Apostle Paul. He does not try to take any credit for being an effective minister of the gospel. He does not try to diminish those who are different in personality. Instead, Paul gives You all the credit and reveals the mercy we have all been given because of Christ. This has been such a great reminder today for our souls, Lord, and the unfathomable patience You extend to all of us who reach for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: For Christmas, a dear friend gave me an essential oil defuser. When heated, the oils release a delicate and pleasant fragrance that fills the room. When I walk into the house, a beautiful fragrance is there to greet me. It makes me breathe deeply and smile.

Scripture teaches when the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached or lived out in human lives, it releases a beautiful fragrance. Honestly, not everyone likes the odor that follows the gospel; in fact, some find the truth repulsive. But, for believers, the gospel is the life-giving fragrance of our Savior and we find it so sweet!

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds Christ’s followers they are servants who are to spread the fragrance of Christ everywhere they go. Like incense or oils, we leave a fragrance behind with our lives. That fragrance should be pleasant as it lingers; it should encourage people to join as we follow the Source. Christ has made us all ministers of the gospel message, so may we release a beautiful fragrance by how we live, because this allows Christ to draw others to himself.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 NLT Ministers of the New Covenant
14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters [like merchants] who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the power of the gospel message. When people allow the truth to live in their hearts, they produce the fragrance of life. If people refuse the truth, Christ’s fragrance reminds them of death and they are repulsed. Please keep us mindful of this, but help us choose to proclaim your message and be the fragrance of life, anyway. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In our psalter passage today, this patriot laments over his country’s sorrows and the people’s miseries as exiles; a people overwhelmed with trouble. The psalmist has faith in God and he looks for the resurrection and restoration of the nation even as he walks through the remaining ruins of Jerusalem/Zion. From the writings of this psalmist, we can gain a better perspective of the calamity that comes for the nations that dishonor God and rebels against His Word.

Even today, if the nations would just turn to God, call on the name of the Lord, and cry out for freedom and deliverance from evil, the divine deeds of grace would pardon national sin and help humanity to become the children of Light who magnify the Lord! May we pay attention to the history of Israel and realize the cost of rebellion against God. May we pray for Jesus to be exalted as the righteous Ruler of human hearts, because the problem is not politics, it is sin against God.

Psalm 102:12-20 NLT
12
But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever.
    Your fame will endure to every generation.
13 
You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem [Zion]—
    and now is the time to pity her,
    now is the time you promised to help.
14 
For your people love every stone in her walls
    and cherish even the dust in her streets.
15 
Then the nations will tremble before the Lord.
    The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.
16 
For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem.
    He will appear in his glory.
17 
He will listen to the prayers of the destitute.
    He will not reject their pleas.
18 
Let this be recorded for future generations,
    so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord.
19 
Tell them the Lord looked down
    from his heavenly sanctuary.
He looked down to earth from heaven
20 
    to hear the groans of the prisoners,
    to release those condemned to die.

Prayer: Lord, whether the nations of the world honor you or not, does not change your power or authority to govern your creation. However, we pray for humble hearts to turn toward you, because each individual and every generation is a new creation with the potential to honor you. Holy Spirit, we pray for nations and leaders to tremble before Almighty God in Jesus’ name. Amen.