THANK YOU FATHER FOR ANSWERING OUR PRAYERS

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12


Precious Heavenly Father,
You are a great and awesome God who hears when Your people cry out. Thank You for giving ear to our petitions. Thank You for inviting us to come boldly before Your throne of grace. Thank You for the mercy and grace we find there to help us in our time of need.

Thank You for answering our prayers. For nearly a year we prayed and asked You to send us a pastor who was a man after Your own heart and would shepherd our people with wisdom and understanding. (Jer. 3:15) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who walks with You, is a righteous man, and was blameless among his peers. (Gen. 6:9) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had faith like Romans 4:18-21 attributes to Abraham - a man who did not waver in his belief in God's promises. You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had discernment and wisdom like Joseph. (Gen. 41:33)
You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who was a man steeped in humility like Moses was. (Num. 12:3) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who was trustworthy and feared You with great reverence. (Exodus 18:21) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who was anointed and appointed to lead our people like Moses led the Israelites. (Micah 6:4) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who was strong and courageous because of Your presence in his life. (Deut. 31:6) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who followed You wholeheartedly. (Joshua 14:8) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had a heart of intercession for his people. (1 Sam. 12:23)
You did. O Thank You, God.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had a personal prayer life like Nehemiah. (Neh. 1:4-11; 4:4, 9; 6:9, 14; 9:6-38; 13:14, 22. 29, 31.) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had great perseverance. (James 5:11) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had Your validation on his calling. (Isa.55:3-4) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had leadership capabilities like the men Ezra selected. (Ezra 7:28b; 8:16-18) You did. Thank You.

Father, we asked You to send us a pastor who had great integrity. (Dan. 1:8) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had a servant's heart and a willing spirit. (Luke 1:38) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who was submissive to Your authority above all else. (Matt. 8:9) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had honesty like Nathanael's in declaring who Jesus is. (John 1:47) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who showed evidence by his life of having been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who was full of Your grace and power. (Acts 6:8) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who spoke with a wisdom from the Spirit. (Acts 6:10) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had the certainty of Your calling and commissioning upon His life. (Acts 26:16-20) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who took a genuine interest in the welfare of others. (Phil. 2:20) Oh how faithfully You did! Thank You.

Father, we asked You to send us a pastor who had a shepherd's heart. (Ezek. 34:11-16) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who was pure in heart - who had a hunger and thirst for righteousness - who was merciful - who was a peacemaker. (Matt. 5:6-9) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who was full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, 16) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who was obedient to You with the same attitude Jesus had. (Phil. 2:5-8) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who would count it JOY when he was facing trials. (James 1:2) You did. Thank You for how he is walking that out before us in this present darkness.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had compassion. (Matt. 9:36) You did. Thank You Father, for David's tender heart.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had a vision for the mission of our church. (Joel 2:28) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who tenderly ministered to people who were grieving. (John 11:35) Oh, how You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who loves his wife the way Christ loves the church. (Eph. 5:25) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who models Christ to his own family. (Eph. 6:4) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who rightly divided the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who boasted in YOU alone. (2 Cor. 12:8) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who built loving relationships with the children in our church. (Mark 10:14) You did. Thank You. My heart has been so blessed to watch my own grandchildren rush to hug "Pastor David" when they see him. I have been so blessed to watch other children in our church give him invitations to attend functions at their school and to see him add those "appointments" to his schedule with the same importance he would give to any adult in the church. How precious!

We asked You to send us a pastor who built caring relationships with the teenagers in our church. (1 Timothy 4:12) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who encouraged young couples in our church toward life-long Christian commitment. (Rom. 15:5) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who challenged the adults in our church to live exemplary Christian lives. (2 Cor. 5:20) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had a vibrant personal devotional life (Ps. 63:1-5) and who would seek uninterrupted time to be with You in Your Word. (Joshua 1:8) You did. Thank You Father.

We asked You to send us a pastor who would lead our congregation toward the joy of revival. (Hab. 3:2) You did. Oh my, how You did! Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who would inspire the parents in our church to train their children in godliness. (Deut. 6:6-9) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who had a heart for missions around the world and a desire to participate in them. (Matt. 28:19-20) You did. Thank You.

We asked You to send us a pastor who was a genuine worshiper. (Ps. 27:4) You certainly did, Father. Thank You for how he led us into the Holy of Holies.

Father, you so faithfully answered SO many prayers for us according to Your lovingkindness. "Thank You" cannot even begin to express our gratitude. Thank You for these answered prayers and for the opportunity to sit under Your servant's ministry for this all too brief period of time. For now, Father, men have "touched" Your anointed one and done harm to Your prophet. (Psalm 105:15, 1 Chron. 16:22) Like the Pharisees of old, they sincerely believe they are doing Your will.

Oh, Holy Father, blot out our transgressions for Your own sake. (Isa. 43:25) Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us. But to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. (Ps. 115:1)

Have mercy upon our church, O God, for we are in trouble. Our eyes waste away from grief and the tears we have shed. (Psalm 31:9) Some may trust in their "chariots" and rely upon the heights to which their "horses" have elevated them; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God and trust in You alone. (Ps. 20:5) Cleanse us, O Father, from our secret faults. Keep us also from presumptuous sins; and let them not have dominion over us. (Ps. 19:12-13) We trust in Your mercy, and our hearts rejoice in Your salvation. We sing praise to You, our God, for You have dealt bountifully with us. (Ps. 13:5-6)

It is morning, Father God, and Jesus is the Dayspring from on High. We celebrate His coming in this sacred season. Here, in this new morning, even though we are in mourning, we direct our focus to You and LOOK UP. You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness. Forgive your children, tender Abba, for the pain we have caused your loving heart. The boastful will not stand in Your sight, O God. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood for You abhor the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. (Ps. 5:3-6)

But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy. In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness ... make Your way straight before my face. (Ps. 5:7-8)

Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You. Let them ever shout for joy. Let those who love Your name be joyful in You even in the midst of our grief. Bless the righteous, O Lord. Surround them with Your favor as with a shield. (Ps. 5:11-12)

Thank You Father, for answering our prayers in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord who is the YES to Your every promise! (2 Cor. 1:20)