2019 Special General Conference Delegation
Daily Prayers of Discernment and Wisdom for Feb. 17-22, 2019
“Allow the Holy Spirit to guide Your Decisions. Discernment is listening for God’s call or will...seeing the heart of the matter through spiritual eyes. Discernment is not new to the Church. In I Samuel 16, the prophet Samuel discerned God’s will regarding who would be anointed king. There are so many scriptures that refer to discernment as a powerful tool in decision making and in the life of faith.”
The Florida Annual Conference Board of Lay Ministry is praying for the delegates, not only from the Florida Conference, but also around the globe. Leading up to the General Conference, daily prayers are offered for February 17-22, 2019, and we invite you to consider a way to pray for the people who are called to serve.
Lord, In Your Mercy, Hear our Prayers.
“For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Proverbs 2:6, NIV
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February 17, 2019
Throughout the seasons we are reminded of God’s directions over our lives. When we pray for guidance and discernment, we can rest assured that God will provide us with wisdom in knowing that He is with us.
Lord, when life is challenging, we realize that we can depend on You to bring us through. Help us to be like Nehemiah and come to You for guidance, strength, provision and protection whenever we face tough choices and hard situations. Help us to remember our beloved, and to remember that we are Your children and Your representatives.
We thank you for Your journey with us on our pilgrimage through life. There are so many stormy paths and shifting seasons in life with so many turns to take. You promised us that You will go with us and that Your Holy Spirit is always within each one of us, guiding and giving us the wisdom for action.
Lord, we seek Your guidance for the decisions the delegates are faced with right now. We lay out before You the different aspects, the possibilities, our fears and concerns. Help us to have wisdom and hope within our hearts that we will be inspired not to choose but to make the right decision. We thank you that whatever way we go, Your love will always remain with us.
AMEN
Paulette Monroe,
Florida Conference Lay Leader
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February 18, 2019
Heavenly Father, as always, we give You thanks and praise for Your presence, Your guidance and Your blessings on our lives. We ask now that You be with the delegation as it makes decisions that affect our denomination.
Let the people put away their biases and differences, remembering that we are all Your children, and none should be excluded. Most importantly, let their decisions be Bible-based and what they know is right to do.
AMEN
Gertrude J. Stewart,
Board of Lay Ministry Lay Woman Representative
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February 19, 2019
Heavenly Father, first and foremost I thank you for Your presence in the decision making of Your servants.
I pray that each person, each servant of Yours, is open and empowered by the Holy Spirit in a way that has influence in whatever they do and touch as they use the gifts that you provide.
I pray that You will guide all of us to the one that leads us down the path you want us to take.
AMEN
John Delaney, President
United Methodist Men
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February 20, 2019
Lord, we trust You are at work in the midst of our confusion, our division, and our uncertainty as we are approaching the Special Session of the General Conference.
The members of the Florida Conference United Methodist Women pray that Your will for the future of the United Methodist Church may be revealed to all the delegates. Help them to hush and listen to the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit so each one of them, no matter their opinion on the issue of human sexuality, may have the faith to rely on You to lead their decision.
Give them the courage to say, before casting their vote; "May Your will be done, not mine."
AMEN
Kay Roach
Florida Conference United Methodist Women
Judith Pierre-Okerson,
Vice Chair Board of Lay Ministry
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February 21, 2019
Almighty God, Creator of all things, in times of uncertainty, You provide certainty. You are the One we can turn to and depend upon to calm the waves. We find ourselves in an anxious place, and the resolution is unknown to us at these times.
We lean into You, Father, asking for Your wisdom as we seek to work out our differences and determine the best way to proceed as a church. We pray for Your Holy Spirit to breathe a fresh wind into the General Conference and into Your church inspiring us in ways only You can.
Please help us all to put away any preconceived notions of what we might think to be the best path and to earnestly seek Your will. May we build relationships and seek ways to live with and love one another that is pleasing to You.
And may the result of this time together build up the mission of transforming the world through the love of Your son, Jesus.
AMEN
Rachael Sumner,
Associate District Lay Leader AC District
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February 22, 2019
God of grace and God of glory, as we enter Your presence, we praise You that You are Jehovah-Shalom! Our Lord Jesus told us "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you." Let Your peace be in our hearts now, as we talk with You.
We find ourselves on the brink of a momentous occasion and many individuals who are caring, and loving Christ followers face a time in which they must be thoughtful decision-makers. So, today, on behalf of all the participants in this conference session, we ask that Your Holy Spirit intercede for each of them.
We pray for spiritual insight.
We pray for patience as each person strives to listen and understand.
We sincerely pray for wisdom that comes through the Holy Spirit that dwells within each of us.
Clearly, as we enter this time of prayer, we are reminded of Paul’s words: "We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."
And now, we intercede on behalf of ALL those who share responsibility for making decisions that provide guidance for our church. Be with them, guide them and protect them.
Hear our prayer, O Lord. Lead us in Your paths of righteousness, holiness, and peace. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
AMEN
Randle Clay
District Lay Leader, NW District FLUMC