Thwarting our Enemy

As we continue to pray through facets of the Lord’s Prayer as a community, we rejoice that the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. And so we pray…

DELIVER US FROM EVIL

The enemy comes to “steal, kill, and destroy” from the Greenhouse community. But Jesus comes to give the Greenhouse “life and life abundantly.” How can I, through the power of Jesus Christ, not partner with the enemy’s plans to steal from or bring destruction into the Greenhouse community? How can I partner with Jesus to nurture abundant life within the Greenhouse family and legacy? How might Jesus Christ empower me to compassionately and with wisdom break off any influence of the enemy’s schemes and lies in the Greenhouse community?  Father, thank you for delivering the Greenhouse community from evil.

The Way of Escape

Living out the Lord’s Prayer together in community reminds us of our own frailty. We are all prone to temptation; and so we pray…

BRING US THROUGH TEMPTATION

In Jesus, victory is available to each of us. He has given us a spirit of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).  Do I exhibit behaviors and entertain thoughts which do not honor God, others or myself?  Through the power of Christ, I can say “no” to these behaviors and thoughts today and tomorrow and every day.  Lord, help me trust you to provide victory in my trials today. How can I build the Greenhouse community by testifying to His faithfulness to me?  How can I encourage someone else in doing the same today?  Father, thank you for your faithfulness to me and our Greenhouse community, moderating the severity, nature, and timing of every trial so that we can bear it and providing a way of escape that will allow us to declare your victory. (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The Path Forward

As we continue to live the Lord’s Prayer together, the next phrase becomes all the more powerful in a year marked by cultural fragmentation. 

FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND HELP US TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US

Have I received forgiveness? From others in my life? From God Himself?  As I contemplate that, are there those from whom I am withholding forgiveness? Has unforgiveness built a barrier between me and a brother or sister particularly at Greenhouse? 

Father, please help me to take all the steps I need to build the Greenhouse family through forgiveness.  Father, thank you for Your forgiveness made possible through Christ and lavished on me and the whole Greenhouse family.  By your grace, may we offer each other the same forgiveness.

The Source of All We Need

As we journey together through the Lord’s Prayer, Christ next points us to God as the source of all we need each day.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD

I have been blessed, and we have been blessed as a community. The Father has provided richly for the Greenhouse family and will continue to do so.  As our heavenly Father, he has blessed us so that we can bless others. How might I be a builder through blessing the Greenhouse community today? For what do I need to trust God today? What does Jesus want me to share today? Who needs spiritual bread?  Who needs emotional bread?  Who needs physical bread?  Who needs relational bread?  Father, may I have eyes to see Your provisions and a heart to receive and share them with thankfulness.  Together, may we be a generous and grateful family.

Building in God's Kingdom!

This month let’s continue patterning our prayers after the Lord’s prayer. As you pray, and take action in response, you will help build Greenhouse within God’s Kingdom. 

THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa 55:8-9) How is the kingdom of God reflected at Greenhouse? What is in heaven that I can invite, build, or declare at Greenhouse?  How can I foster the Kingdom vision and worldview that Jesus has for this community?  What does it look like, sound like, feel like when Greenhouse manifests God’s realm?  What has God revealed of His will for His children at Greenhouse?  Father, may Your will be done at the Greenhouse as it is in heaven.

We invite you on a journey in prayer

Dear Greenhouse Builder, we invite you to join us on a journey through prayer over the next several months. The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer map that Jesus gave to His original disciples in building the Kingdom with Him.  It is one of the first tools He provided.  As Greenhouse Builders, who intentionally say “yes” to co-laboring in His Kingdom, we can use the same tool here and now.  Perhaps we could refer to it as The Kingdom Builders’ Prayer.

In each email we will invite you to approach this familiar prayer phrase-by-phrase with fresh eyes and a renewed heart. As you pray and act upon these prayers, you will help build Greenhouse within God’s Kingdom.

OUR FATHER, WHO IS IN HEAVEN, HOLY IS YOUR NAME

As you pray, honor God as holy; there is none who compares with Him. His ways are infinitely higher than our own. Spend time adoring Him in His holiness. Let Him increase, as you decrease.

As you call God your Father, recognize that you are a member of a family.  Pray over the family of Greenhouse, as well as the families of Greenhouse. Prayerfully ask: “How can I help build the family of Greenhouse, cultivating stronger connections and abiding in the Greenhouse community?  How can I nurture love and honor for all of our family members?” 

 Pray this over the Greenhouse community: “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, ‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!’” Revelation 7:9-10