Pray By The Book: Psalmsনমুনা

# Pray for the Church ## Blessed is the church that has made the Lord their trust. How can we move forward as a church during uncertain times? Psalm 40 helps us to first recall how God has been gracious and merciful in the past when He rescued and saved those who have entrusted their lives to Him (v 1-3). This results in God’s people praising Him for the countless blessings He has given them (v 4-5) and conveying to the Lord our willingness to obey His will (v 6-8). The Psalmist’s response is to express joy in worship of God and to declare it to the whole congregation (v 9-11). Even when trouble surrounds us from without, sin treads upon us from within, and discouragement tries to hinder our hearts (v 12), we, as God’s people still entrust our lives to the Lord and magnify Him in the process (v 13-16). As God has been faithful in the past, so in the present; and we can lift up our current needs to Him and experience His redemption (v 17). ## Reflect: How can our church be the instrument of God’s blessing to others? God desires the church to be united because a house divided against itself will not last long. A united body of believers is good in the eyes of God and those around us. It is also a pleasant experience for the believers because here we are satisfied and refreshed. This also reinforces our witness to the world around us. If we look at the local church, our own congregation where God has placed us, is there unity among the brethren? If there is none, to what causes do we attribute this, and what can we do as God’s children to restore and maintain the unity in the body of Christ? ## As you pray... Lift up your church to continue magnifying the Lord by making disciples who will make disciples of all nations. Intercede for your leaders, that the Lord may indeed sustain His servants and grant them wisdom on how to navigate through their situations today.