“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” –Albert Einstein

Let’s pray with the song “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us”

“How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure”

Lord God, Almighty One, Father in Heaven, Abba,

We sit in our little houses, surrounded by our little things, encapsulated in our own little lives, and we see no miracles. We pretend we’re taking care of everything by ourselves and we lull ourselves to sleep without noticing Your love.

But then the snow geese pass. Flocks like clouds, singing Your praise, white bodies tipped with black, and for a moment our eyes awaken to the miracles.

The miracles of temps rising, of new life growing, of hearts changing. And as we see the miracles, we see the love behind them from You.

Help us to see Lord. Help us to be engulfed in Your love.

“That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure”

And there’s the greatest miracle of all–that You would love us enough to create us, and then die for us. So many times, we wonder how You can forgive us; and yet You already did, 2000 years ago.

“How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory”

During this season of Lent, Father don’t let us forget the cost. Help us be changed by it. May the cross make us grateful. Humble. And overwhelmingly confident in Your love.

“Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers”

Lord, we want to confess for our people. We understand that all need to individually repent, but we corporately confess too. Forgive us for our pride. Forgive us for our egocentrism and for thinking we don’t need You. Lord, forgive us for filling our need for You with so many other things like drinking and relationships and greed and busy-ness. So much busy-ness. Forgive us for not protecting the innocent. Father, please forgive our foul, scoffing mouths. Forgive us for not seeking You.

“It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished”

It is finished. Lord help us to remember the chains of our sinful lives, without staying in them, without wallowing in them. Without saying “your sacrifice wasn’t enough, I still need to punish myself.”

“I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection”

Resurrection Sunday is coming! And beyond that You are coming again! Lord, help us shout this out! Help us share the joy. Not the joy in the new dress or the eggs or the spring. The joy in You.

“Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.”

Great, unending love. And it is because of this we can pray.

We pray You will guard the hearts of our deployed. May Your resurrection be real to them as never before in this season.

We pray against the demonic spirit of suicide in our troops. May they all know the deep love of Jesus.

Lord, please give our warriors direction in their careers–promotions, difficult situations, choices to make, new moves. We trust in You through it all.

We ask for Your wisdom Lord. Give our warriors wisdom to raise their children. Guide them in the logistics of another mission. Help them reach their neighbors.

Help us to live as deeply loved children today. May Your love overflow into our warriors’ marriages. Let grace and forgiveness abound. May self-sacrifice be the goal. Help their love be long-suffering.

May these hard times be the catalyst for great things. We pray for our leaders, including the spiritual leaders in the Chief of Chaplain’s office.

We pray for healing for our friends–for surgeries and miserable flu bugs and mysterious illnesses and suffering babies. Father, we turn to You, our great Physician, recognizing that everything is a miracle.

And we love You Lord, the God of Love, Amen.

Click here to consider “How Deep the Father’s Love.”

“How Deep the Father’s Love”
CCLI #7051633
Written By Stuart Townend
1995 Thankyou Music