Building Up A Culture Of Encouragement
“So then we pursue the things which make for
peace and the building
up of one another.”
Rom.14:19
LIFTcov PRAYER GUIDE May 2023
Praying this month for our neighbors.
Seems every morning we wake to news of some devastating event of destruction and despair
in our world. Fear and sadness are the elements of the very start of our day, tearing away the
glory of the sunrise. A vision of salvation and new beginnings in Christ become blurred.
We are often distracted by current events. Oh well, on with the day.
As you have your morning coffee, or as you walk out your front door do you ever look across the street
and wonder about your neighbor and his/her family? Do you know any of the details about them?
Have you spoken recently? Do they feel like you do this morning? What could be happening at their place?
Are they in need of help? Do they need your help, or God’s help?
LIFTcov was created for the purpose of encouraging and praying for one another, and thereby
“building up one another.” 1 Thess. 5:11a. If Christ is in me, and I claim to walk in the Spirit, what am I to do?
Jesus replied “Love the LORD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor
as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31
Jesus Christ is our model. It is His model that compels us to love others. “A new command I give you:
love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
“Jesus lived and died as the supreme example of humble, self-sacrificing service.” Luke 22:27
Emulating Christ means not seeking our own good, but the good of others.
“We should all be concerned about our neighbor and the good things that will build his/her faith.” Rom. 15:2
“If we genuinely love others, we will help them and bear their burdens.” Gal. 6:2
Our Lord taught that “we should do to others as we would have them do to us.” Matt. 7:12
Let all of us at COV pray for our neighbors this month.
All Sufficient God,
Thank you Father, for the depth of the love you show us. Help us to learn and strengthen our willingness
to be a neighbor ready to love. Let Jesus be the example of loving others as you God, love us. This day I
will focus my thoughts and prayers on my neighbor ______________. I pray, that through Your power Holy
Spirit, that my neighbor will be blessed in some way by the love of Jesus Christ. Grant me an opportunity
to show a kindness that lets my neighbor know that I care about them.
Amen.
Father in Heaven,
You are the one True God, Creator of the Universe. To you all honor, glory, praise and gratitude is due.
You knew me before I was born. You loved me when I was not deserving. In Christ You have saved me.
With all my understanding, and all my strength I will hear you O LORD. As you have loved me, I will love
my neighbor as You have commanded. May the gift of eternal life and blessings be evidence of the gospel
within me so that I may become a disciple who loves others as I have been loved.
Contemplate: Hebrews 13:1-2
“Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,
for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it.”
