The lies we tell ourselves #2 - I am what I have; I am what I do

Father
You are the owner of everything.
You have promised to care for us.
Forgive us for defining ourselves by what we have.
Instead may we see and seek our value in knowing you.
Enable us to sow treasure for heaven.
Forgive us for seeing our value in our activity.
May we seek our worth in being children of God,
Adopted,
Known by God,
And fellow heirs with Christ.
Amen 

Abigail and the man named ‘Fool’ - 1 Samuel 25

Father we are filled with folly, filled with desires.
Please forgive our trespasses and sins.
You are the God of the living,
Who judges the wicked and the foolish.
You have raised your king
You have given us a mediator.

Remember us we pray.
Thank you that you have sent Jesus
To grant us peace,
To take our guilt.
In the face of your victory
Thank you that you are a God who brings justice…we need only wait and trust
Amen

Been hurt by the church? 2 Tim 3:1-9

Father,

As we experience the worship of self,

The love of money, pride, arrogance and abuse;

Disobedience reigns,

Ungrateful, unholy, unloving, uncontrolled and slanderous;

People are brutal, treacherous, reckless, conceited and pleasure loving

We easily become uncertain and afraid.

And we easily become like them…

Teach us to avoid such people, not to admire them but instead to seek truth and commit to the outcomes of truth in our lives;

As truth makes us more holy like Christ

Amen

Poverty and the Poor

Father may we be a people whose hearts value release.

May we abolish debts,

May we not

shut our hands

close our ears

blind our eyes

shut our hearts

To the cries of the poor.

Keep us from unworthy thoughts and from ignoring their cries.

May we remember that we were poor but that you have made us rich;

And may we rejoice at other’s wealth gained at our expense.

The God of my Heart

Father

We long to hear the word of commendation that you have for the widow,

But our hearts are like the rich young man we love our wealth.

Our eyes see into eternity only dimly.

But we are enthralled by the lure of this world.

Forgive us.

And change us.

Without your Spirit doing a sovereign work in our hearts we are doomed.

Grow in us a heart of grace, turned outwards, loving you more than loving our comforts;

And seeing others as people made in your image.

Life with Money - Materialism

Father,

Our hearts want more.

Our lives are full of our possessions,

They consume our money;

Our time;

Our thoughts;

And our dreams.

We are fearful that they will be removed;

Fearful that you will not supply;

Fearful of want;

When we should be fearful of missing you;

And fearful of eternity.

Transform our thinking.

Make us to question our assumptions.

And repent of our inner values.

Grow our generosity.

Stretch our gratitude.

Simplify our lives.

Give us financial modesty.

And fill us with contentment.

For your glory alone

Eyes for you Alone

Father

You have blessed me with money.

You have burdened me with money.            

My wicked heart is drawn to comfort and pleasure rather than to you.

Take from me the love of wealth,

And give me a heart radically turned towards you,

Deeply in love with you,

With eyes for you alone.

Amen

From Luke 18:18-30

Prayer for an Eternal View of Money 

Our Father,

We are quick to hold

Slow to share

Intoxicated by wealth

Unable to give you our all.

We are in great danger and we ask you to rescue us.

We ask for your Holy Spirit to give us a glimpse of eternity, so that we might use our money in eternal ways.

Please keep us from stupidity with respect to our money…and may we buy treasure in heaven.

In the name of the one who gave all for us.

Amen