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Every day brings opportunities to see life a little differently.
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Sometimes all it takes is an unexpected encounter or a moment that changes our perspective.
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Prayer can do that.
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It invites us to see beyond what's right in front of us and discover how God is at work in our lives.
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So let's give him these next few minutes and see where he leads us.
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Let us pray.
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
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Amen.
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O Lord, open my lips.
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And my mouth shall declare your praise.
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Psalm 83.
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Clothe us in peace.
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Cloth us in the dress of your peace, O Lord, and the stronghold of your mercy.
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Let us walk and choose integrity and put on the mantle of truth.
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Let us shed the tatters of envy and fear, the rags of anger and greed, and say, We shall seek only the truth, the truth that will set us free.
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O God, let all that is unholy within us be cleansed, erased as chalk from a slate, as fire consumes the forest, as the flame reaches up to the heavens.
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Let the refining fire of your love reach into the hidden places within our hearts.
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Forgive us, and let the deep regret of our souls rise up as contrite offerings.
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Let the people seek your word, let the nations turn from violence and destruction.
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Let them know that you alone, you who reign with love, are the most high over all the earth.
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Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
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Amen.
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Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, soar on eagle's wings, run and not grow weary, and walk and not grow faint.
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The word of the Lord.
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There is something about this scripture that brings me a deep sense of peace.
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I think it's because I know from personal experience that it's true.
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When we place our hope in the Lord, especially during difficult times, he gives us a strength that we sometimes don't even know we have.
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I learned this in a very personal way through my daughter Kelsey.
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When Kelsey was 19, she became very sick.
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For four years, she was in and out of hospitals.
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I watched my young, active daughter become so weak that she eventually lost her ability to walk on her own.
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There were mornings when she couldn't bend her knees without help.
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She was so weak she couldn't lift a glass to her mouth.
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As a mother, it was heartbreaking to watch her suffer.
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So we prayed.
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And we invited many others to pray with us.
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Kelsey was always a very spiritual person, and even during those difficult years, she told me, I will never lose hope.
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One day I asked her, How do you hold on to hope when you're hurting so badly?
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Her answer has stayed with me ever since.
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She said, In the darkest moments when I see no end in sight, I see myself reaching for God, and I imagine his hand reaching down and grabbing mine.
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Then I realize that I'm not alone in my suffering and I don't let go.
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In her suffering, she taught me about faith and hope.
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Sometimes faith isn't about understanding why something is happening.
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Sometimes faith is simply reaching out your hand and trusting that God is reaching back.
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It's knowing that as we physically and emotionally grow weaker, God does not grow weary and He gives us all that we need.
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Against all odds, Kelsey got healthy, got married, and has a healthy baby girl.
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Today she shares her faith with young people and teaches them about God.
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When I look at Kelsey's journey, I think about those words from Isaiah.
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Kelsey couldn't see what the future would hold, neither could I.
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But she kept reaching for God, and God kept holding on to her.
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I think that's true for all of us.
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There will be times when we are tired, frightened, or discouraged.
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There may be moments when we cannot see a way forward.
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And sometimes the path God gives us is not the path that we would have chosen.
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But God promises that we will never walk it alone.
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Sometimes He gives us the strength to soar.
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And sometimes he simply gives us the strength to take one more step.
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So if you're going through something difficult today, keep reaching for God.
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Keep praying, keep hoping, because He is always reaching for you, and He will renew your strength.
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Place it before the Lord now.
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With confidence we pray.
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Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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Amen.
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Let us pray.
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Lord of unfailing strength, you know the weight of every sorrow and the prayers whispered through tears.
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When our strength is spent and tomorrow lies hidden from view, let us feel the gentle touch of your peace.
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May your grace lift what we cannot carry, and may the promise of your presence give us courage for the journey ahead.
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We ask this through Christ our Lord.
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Amen.
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And now we pray.
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To you do I belong, O God.
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Into your hands I surrender my life.
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Pour out your Spirit upon me, that I may love you perfectly and serve you faithfully until my soul rests in you.
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Thank you for praying with us today.
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Whatever the day ahead brings, may you find little reminders that God's love is closer than you think, especially when you need it most.
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And may God bless us in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
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Amen.
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Look for Christ in the small things until we pray again tomorrow.