May 23 – Day 143. God is giving us a heart to know him.

Welcome to another episode of the EBC’s Prayer Podcast. Our scripture will be taken from Jeremiah 24:7, and it reads: “I will give them a heart to know me, I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” (Jeremiah 24:7)

Are we truly open and willing to delve into a more profound understanding of God's essence? Are we prepared to return to Him with sincerity and unwavering devotion? These questions serve not only as a reminder but also as a heartfelt encouragement for us to actively seek that transformative connection, placing our trust in God’s promise and leading us toward a richer comprehension of His divine nature and boundless love for us.

As we pray, let us take a moment to reflect on the profound promise from God that highlights the sacred and intimate relationship He desires to have with each one of us. He is inviting us to look within our own hearts and examine the state of our relationship with Him.

Let us approach God’s throne, knowing that the Lord is ready to instill in us a spirit of humility and grace. In this deep and meaningful connection, we should wholeheartedly turn back to the Lord, embracing our entire hearts with a commitment filled with devotion and faith.

Transcript

Dear Heavenly Father. Our Gracious God and our Wonderful Savior. Father, we come before you with grateful hearts, acknowledging the incredible gift of prayer. It is through you, Jesus Christ that we are able to approach your throne with confidence, not because of our own merit, but because of your mercy, your grace, and your unfailing love for us.

Father, thank you for reminding us that “You will give us a heart to know you, for you are the Lord: and we shall be your people, you will be our God: for we shall return unto you with our whole heart.”

Lord, you promise to give us new hearts, tender hearts, teachable hearts, and hearts that desire you above all else. A heart that will know you. A transforming and softening of hearts, that will enable us to have a deeper understanding and recognition of your divine presence. Help us to understand the importance of a sincere connection between you and your followers. Knowing you, Lord, goes beyond our knowledge and requires an open, receptive heart.

Lord, we long for a heart that truly understands you. A heart will seek the depth of your love and wisdom, desiring an intimate knowledge of your presence in our lives. Give us the insight to see beyond the surface, to embrace the richness of your character, and to foster a genuine connection with you, for you are our guiding light and source of all truth. Moreover, we shall be your people, you will be our God.  Lord, you want us to have a covenantal relationship because of your unwavering faithfulness and love. God, as you draw us, your people, to you, you want us to respond with our whole hearts, fully dedicated and willing to turn back from sin to you.

Lord, help us to return to you with our whole hearts. Help us to set aside distractions, burdens, and fears, and help us to fix our eyes on you, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Lord, deep within us is a longing to know you more deeply, not just to know about you, but to know you intimately, to experience your presence in our daily lives, in our joys and in our sorrows, in our victories and in our struggles. Lord, help us to honor you as our true Lord, the Holy One of Israel, the God who was and is and is to come. Help us to walk in reverence before you, in the sweet assurance that we are your beloved children.

Father, we are praying for strength. Sometimes our hearts grow cold, distracted by the worries of life and the temptations of the world. Forgive us for the times when we have tried to carry burdens on our own. Lord, help us to repent and return to you, renew our spirits, restore our joy, and reignite our passion for you. Thank you for being a God who welcomes us back again and again with open arms, never condemning, but always forgiving, always embracing.

We are grateful for the many blessings you are pouring upon us, our family, our friends, our health, and our provision. Lord, help us never to take these gifts for granted. Teach us to live each day in gratitude, recognizing your miracles and mercies that sustain us moment by moment.

Father, guide us into a deeper relationship with you. Help us to cultivate disciplines that will draw us closer to you in times of prayer, times of worship, and times of surrendering to you. Show us how to abide in you so that our lives can shine and draw others to you.

Lord, have mercy on everyone who is hurting, feeling lonely, sick, oppressed, or weighed down by sin and shame. Let us, your people, be vessels of your compassion. Teach us to love as you love, to serve as you served, to forgive as you forgave. Let our words and our lives reflect your grace to everyone we meet.

Father, when we feel weak, remind us that your strength is made perfect in our weakness. When we are overwhelmed, remind us that you are our ever-present help in times of trouble. Give us strength in trials, hope in uncertainty, and courage in the face of fear.

Father, thank you for hearing our prayer today. Send a fresh outpouring of your spirit upon us. Fill us with the fire of your love. Empower us to live boldly for Christ, to proclaim the good news of salvation, and to shine as lights in the darkness. Draw us closer to you, so that everything we do brings glory to your holy name.

In the precious and mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, we pray…Amen.

Everyone. Have a great day, and by God’s grace, we will pray again tomorrow…Bye-bye.