The lies we tell ourselves - "I don't lie" - Philippians 4:8,9

Our Father
Set my mind on truth
Set my yearnings on your honour
Set my longings on justice
Set my desires on purity
Set my cravings towards loveliness.
May I constantly think on what is commendable
May I seek excellence in all I do
And may I pursue what is praiseworthy
As my renewed mind is increasingly set towards loving you and others.
Amen

Not Anxiety; Now Joy
Philippians 4:2-13; 21-23

Father

Give us hearts of unity.
May we choose joy in you.
May we live as if you are at hand,
conscious of your presence and your coming.
May we not be anxious.
May we instead choose prayer, supplication and thanksgiving.
Enjoying your peace and guardianship.
May we think truth, honour justice and seek purity.
May we think lovely, commendable and excellent
May we be full of praise
And may we enjoy your peace, reveling in your grace forever.
Amen

Solutions to the Mental Health Crisis
Philippians 3:12-4:1 

Father in heaven
We are waiting for the arrival of your son our Saviour
Keep reminding us that we have not arrived
That you are our arrival point.
May we press on
Straining forward.
May we hold true and stand firm in what we have attained.
Enable us to imitate those who walk according to the example set by Christ
Longing for our transformed bodies
Secure in our citizenship in heaven.
Amen

 

The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ
Philippians 3:1-11

Our Father,

May we take joy in the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
May we glory in Christ,
May we worship by the Spirit.
May we put no confidence in the flesh.
May we gain the righteousness of Christ by faith,
And in so doing to attain to the resurrection of the dead.
Amen

Lighthouse
Philippians 2:12-18 

Father, enable us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling,
Knowing that you work in us for your good pleasure.
Keep our mouths free from grumbling and questioning.
Make us to be blameless, innocent and without blemish.
As we remember that we are children of God,
Shining light into this dark world.
Keep us holding fast to the word of life.
Holding out the word of life.
Straining to the day of Christ
Rejoicing in our salvation.
Amen

 

The God who became a Slave
Philippians 2:1-11

Our Father we look with wondrous adoration at your Son.
Longing for the day when he is exalted,
when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord!
May the manner of our lives be worthy of the gospel of Christ.
May we stand firm, with one mind, with one heart and one spirit, striving together…
May we not be frightened but rather ready to suffer.
May we be done with rivalry and conceit.
May we fight for humility and the success of others rather than for our own prestige.
And may our lives be servant-shaped for your glory alone. Amen

Live Worthy
Philippians 1:27-30  

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Empower us by your Spirit to live worthy of the gospel.
May Christ be our desire
May Christ be our model

May Christ be our striving
Enable us to stand firm, united in one spirit, with one mind;
Striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.
May we not be frightened of our opponents. Remembering that you will destroy all opposition.
Remind us that it has been granted to us to suffer for the sake of Christ.
Encourage and strengthen us.
For your honour and glory
Amen

Heaven
Philippians 1:12-26

Our Father,
Fix our eyes and our hearts on heaven.
May we live for the day when we are with Christ,
Knowing that is better by far.
May we live as if heaven is gain.
May we rejoice in Christ.
May we proclaim Christ,
So that others may also know Jesus.
Amen

Exploding Love
Philippians 1:3-11

Our loving, heavenly Father,

You have begun a good work in us,
And you will bring it to completion on the day of Christ.
Forgive us for not abounding in love.
May our love abound.
May we desire love.
Forgive us for attempting love without knowledge and discernment.
Make our abounding love, knowledgeable and clear thinking
Make us pure and blameless.
Fill us with the fruit of righteousness
For the day when we meet Christ
To your glory, praise and honour.
Amen

 

 
Confession based on Philippians 1:9-11

Our loving, heavenly Father,
You have made us holy.
You have begun a good work in us
And are bringing us to the day of completion.
Forgive us for not abounding in love.
Forgive us for not desiring to abound in love.
Forgive us for attempting love without knowledge and discernment.
Make us pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
Fill us with the fruit of righteousness
To your glory and praise.
Amen

Saints and Servants
Philippians 1:1-2 

Our Father,
Your Son, Christ Jesus, has made us holy!
May we view ourselves as blessed with his holiness,
And obligated to holiness.
May service not be for others but for ourselves,
Even as sainthood is ours too.
Amen

 

Being Seen
Philippians 4:10-20

Our Father,
You are the God of riches,
You supply our every need
May we be kind,
May we partner in gospel ministry by sharing in each other’s troubles.
May we be strengthened by Christ as we learn contentment
May we remember that you see our gifts
And that they bring you joy when we trust in your provision
Amen

I don’t need saving! Do I?
Acts 16:25-40

Our Father,

You are the God of greatness

And we are far from you.

We don’t think there is anything wrong.

Our city is facing hell.

Our loved ones are facing hell.

O help us to believe in the Lord Jesus!

May we be full on in with Christ,

Not just intellectually connected,

Nor sentimentally religious,

But full on in with Jesus our Lord and our saviour.

Thank you for doing all that was necessary to save us.

Amen

A Surprising God; A Surprising Life

Our Father

You are a God whose son dies that we might live;

A God who gives that we might get;

   Who serves that we might be saved;

   Who speaks that we might know you;

   Who empties himself that we might be filled;

   Who suffers that we might escape pain;

   Who pays that we might be ransomed;

   Who substitutes that we might be forgiven;

   Who declares us righteous though we are not!

If we choose to live we die.

If we seek ourselves, we lose our souls.

If we serve our desires, we lose our hearts.

As we hold, we lose,

As we take, we weep,

As we lash out, we hurt ourselves,

As we worry, we fear,

As we strive, we miss,

As we serve ourselves, we become lonely,

As we become rich, we become poor,

And as we find ease, we find emptiness.

But if like you we die, then we live,

As we give, then we get,

As we suffer, we find joy,

As we serve, we find purpose,

As we forgive, we find peace,

As we submit, we find freedom,

As we live outwardly, we find inner healing,

As we pray, we are protected.

Father in the light of the cross give us your Spirit.

Change us to

   Sow love where there is hatred;

   Peace where there is war;

   Grace where there is hurt;

   Faith where there is doubt;

   Hope where there is despair;

   Light where there is darkness;

  Joy where there is sadness;

  And life where there is death.

Amen

Philippians 2:5-11

Christmas Blessing

And now may the majestic king,

the omnipotent God,

and the humble slave,

be the object of your worship this Christmas.

May you grow in your appreciation of his greatness.

May you bow in honour of his majesty.

May his Son be the hope of your heart.

May your values and affections become increasingly Christlike,

May you overflow in gratitude for his mercy,

And may you trust his goodness more.

May his Spirit bless you with the knowledge of his presence and his transforming power.

And may you love the God of Christmas more.

Looking onwards to the day when we will stand before him - our great God, born into our world as a slave that first Christmas day.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Philippians 2:5-11

Almighty Father, at this Christmas time we remember that you are

The majestic king,

The omnipotent God,

And the humble slave.

Your Son made himself nothing,

took into his infinity, our humanity,

and died in our place.

Forgive

our impudence,

our independence,

our arrogance,

our ignorance,

and our willful neglect of you.

Grow in us an appreciation of your greatness.

Grow our gratitude for your mercy.

Grow our trust in your goodness.

Grow our hope in your plan.

Grow our worship of your person.

And grow our love for you.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the one before whom every knee will bow and every tongue confess, our great God, born into our world as a slave that first Christmas day.

Amen