[Please join me in praying for the Church on Sundays this year.]
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
(Romans 11:29 ESV)
God,
Where do I begin to thank you for all the phenomenal things you did in the arts camp this week? I remember camper faces, volunteer help, precious memories, beautiful artistic pieces, holy moments spent together, and such great joy. Creating God, set your seal upon the hearts of these young people. May their spirits hold fast to the seeds you have planted within them. May their minds hold the memories and their hearts hold the love in this past week. May they hear your still small Voice within them in a more vivid way. May they go back to their own churches and “infect” them with the calling to use the artistic gifts in worship and the Church in general – and not just be relegated to “children’s church” or “youth group.” I pray that leadership in their home churches will see the need to raise up young artists, both to serve in the Church and to impact the greater world, and that the local congregations they are in will love, encourage, and build up these young artists. Pour out your Spirit on this generation so that instead of being marked by the world systems and hopelessness, they see your visions, dreams, purpose, plan, and future – and hope. I ask in the strong name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.
“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.” (Song of Songs 8:6 NIV)
“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29 NIV)