Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts #10

March 13, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts #10 SCOTTY SMITH We are never alone, and will never be abandoned Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:8 Oh Father, thank you for the promise of your perpetual presence. When I’m afraid to be alone, you won’t let me be. When I want to be alone, you won’t let me be. When I need you to come through for me, you will. When it feels like you’re not coming through for me, you are. When I’m discouraged, you don’t despise, chide me, or revile me; you enter, engage, and encourage me. When I’m afraid, you don’t say, “Buck up.” You say, “I understand, and I am here with you. You can trust me.” Thank you Abba. We have a Father who is sovereign over everything, and who is working in all things for our good And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom. 8:28 Heavenly Father, you’ve numbered my hairs and my days; you appoint my joys and my pain; you give, and you take away—blessed be your name. Hallelujah, through the Gospel, the main thing you’ve taken from me is my sin and judgment. Your sovereignty is my sanity, and your reign is my joy. You are work in all things for my good, and your glory—even when I don’t see it, don’t like it, or struggle with your sense of timing. For now, you bottle my tears and, one Day will wipe them all away. I am blessed beyond all sensibility to be your child. In Jesus’ name I gratefully pray, Amen. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts #9

March 12, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts #9 SCOTTY SMITH We have been freed from “do more, try harder” spirituality But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Cor. 4:7 Gracious and loving Father, it feels good to be free from “do more, try harder” spirituality. Jesus finished his work for me, and you will finish your work in me. It’s liberating to know that, far from denying and despising my limitations, the Gospel actually calls me to accept them. Your grace makes me more human, not super-human. Take this “jar of clay” and release the aroma of grace through me today—for the benefit and blessing of others. Jesus is the true treasure I want cherish and reveal. Because we are fully-known and totally-loved, we “boast” in our weaknesses Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Cor. 12:9 Lord Jesus, if your power works best in my weaknesses, then I gladly humble myself before you today, with palms us in praise and surrender. The Gospel puts to end my need to pose and pretend. You are my righteousness and sufficiency; my help and my hope; my life and my freedom. Work in me and through me to your glory today. Free me from any need to be noticed, celebrated, and “coddled.” I love being loved by you, and living as a conduit of your life-giving grace. In your name I pray, Amen. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts #8

March 11, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts #8 SCOTTY SMITH The hope of the Gospel assures us of God’s full, unbreakable acceptance Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 2 Corinthians 3:12 (NIV) Heavenly Father, it feels so good to be set free from the old “He loves me; he loves me not” spirituality. Because the Gospel is true, I can be bold, assured, and at home in your presence. There’s no more need to pose or pretend with you, Lord. I’ve traded in my “fig leaves” for the righteousness of Jesus. By your grace, I discovered my condition was far worse than I ever imagined. But I also discovered you love me far more than I could have hoped or dreamed. I’m no longer afraid to die and face judgment. Equally so, I’m less fearful to face the challenges of life and opinions of men. Keep the freedom coming, Father! We have perpetual access to the occupied throne of grace. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Heb. 4:16 Dear Lord Jesus, it’s only because you went gladly to the cross of judgment that I now come boldly to your throne of grace. I don’t with “hat in hand” doubts, but with the delight of knowing I’m safely in your hand. For such peace, welcome, and love, I worship and adore you. And for the promise of daily mercy and sufficient grace, I gratefully trust you. Hear my plea, and supply what you will for this Thursday. You are a most wonderful and merciful Savior, Jesus. In your name I pray, Amen.     Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts #7

March 10, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts #7 SCOTTY SMITH We have been sealed with, and are indwelt by, God’s Spirit “In him (Jesus) you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance…” Eph. 1:13-14 Grace-Full Father, thank you for enabling me to know my need of the Gospel, and to believe it. My salvation is all of grace—all of it. You sealed me with the Holy Spirit—the unbreakable guarantee that I belong to you, now and forever. Hallelujah, you began my salvation, and you will finish it. By your Spirit, who lives in me, you are making me more like Jesus, telling me how much you love me, and are growing fruit for the benefit of others. Thank you, blessed Father. We have the “Spirit of sonship” living in us, freeing us from all fear “You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Rom. 8:15 Loving, Abba Father, thank you for giving me the permanent indwelling of your Spirit. You sent him into my heart to make much of Jesus, and to constantly remind me that I am your beloved child—loved as much as you love Jesus. By your Spirit, you have given me the full rights and great delights of belonging to you. When I forget I’m yours, or ignore my “sonship,” I start acting like a spiritual orphan. I get fearful, envious, and critical—under-believing the Gospel, and over-expecting from people. That’s not how I want to live, Abba, so fill me to overflowing with the Spirit of sonship. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.     Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts #6

March 9, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts #6 SCOTTY SMITH Jesus set us free from the demands of the law and “performancism” So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Galatians 5:1 Lord Jesus, there is no freedom like the freedom we have in you. To be free from the law’s demands is astonishing, exhilarating, and (hallelujah) true. Thank you for fulfilling the law for us, by your life of perfect obedience. But, like most people, I still default towards performance-based living. By the power of the Gospel and your Holy Spirit, keep liberating me from all forms of legalism, works-based-salvation, performancism, and anything else that contradicts the freedom I have in you. I want to obey you because you already love me, not because I’m trying to earn your love. Jesus’ cross was our Judgment Day. God’s love frees us from the fear of judgment There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 Heavenly Father, many times my heart has to catch up with my head, especially in matters of grace. I know the Bible teaches when Jesus died on the cross, he took all the punishment I deserve, but it seems too good to be true. How can you be this generous and loving to me? By the truth of the Holy Spirit, drive out these residual fears in my heart that haunt me with threats of condemnation and judgment. May your perfect love drive out everything that contradicts your declaration that I am fully and eternally accepted in Christ. Shut the mouth of the devil with this Jesus’ bold affirmation, “It is finished!” In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.   Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts #5

March 8, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts #5 SCOTTY SMITH We obey God the best by beholding, believing, and basking in his love “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” – 1 John 3:1 Heavenly Father, this is one of my favorite commands in the Bible to obey. Enable me to see and savor the great love that comes with being your child. Open my heart’s eyes to behold the height, depth, width, and breadth of your affection for me in Jesus. You haven’t dribbled, trickled, or sprinkled your love on us; you have “lavished” it. To be your child is like standing under the life-giving Niagara Falls of your grace. Make this the most compelling reality in my life. Thank you, now and forever. Because of Jesus’ finished work, our Father rejoices over us, even sings to us The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17 Father, this portion of your Word requires your grace for me even to believe it. Because the Gospel is true, you rejoice with gladness over me. You aren’t irritated or disappointed with me. You are committed to quiet me with your love—not shame me with rebukes. You “exult” over me with loud singing. Turn up the volume. Drown out all other noise. What mere people can only give me a taste of, you’ve given me fully in Jesus. Only your love is better than life. Only your love is enough. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.   Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe