Morning Chapel Prayer Playlist
Morning Chapel Prayer Today
Worship leader…
Good morning, everybody. Happy Tuesday. Jesus is alive today. Amen? He is alive on His throne. He’s good, and He’s in control.
Pastor Heather…
As we were singing that song, “Jesus, I love you,” I felt prompted to share this story. I got born again when I was 18 here at Living Word in the Youth Ministry. And then married shortly thereafter, and then went to Bible school. And then my husband and I were called to go to Florida to be youth pastors there. I was 25 at the time. And then when I was 28, I got pregnant with Noah. And we were at a point in the youth ministry where we didn’t have a worship leader. So in all my fear and trembling, I had to step up for a short amount of time to lead worship, pregnant with Noah in youth. And I had a very small repertoire of songs that I knew how to sing or that were in my key. But this was one of those songs, “Jesus, I Love you.”
And it makes me so thankful for His faithfulness to think how young I was stepping into ministry. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I was hungry for Him. You know, that first love. And I’m so proud to see my son, Noah, leading worship, singing that song. I just think of how proud He is of us as His children and that we love Him and that our hearts, you know, that first love, our hearts beat for that.
But also just a gentle reminder of how much He loves us…
And we’re His children. And it pleases Him so much when we are seeking His heart and seeking His face. And we’re not going to get everything right. But this morning, I’m reminded of His faithfulness. He’s so faithful. And I know all of you, you can sit back and you can recall stories of His faithfulness.
Think back to your first love…
So just think back to that, your first love. Some of you were really young; some of you were older. Everybody in here has different stories. But think back to that first love. When He first lit your heart on fire for Him. And for me, my life, it was a complete turnaround just coming out of the world. I was so lost. So lost. So confused. So insecure. And just didn’t know who I was or why I was on earth. Or why He even created me. I didn’t think I had a purpose. I thought I was a mistake.
Find your purpose in Him…
But He takes the foolish things to confound the wise. He’s so good. And my heart’s cry was to know Him, to find purpose. And I love that He takes the thing that you struggle with the most… feeling loved. Whatever that might be. Everybody in here has a thing that the enemy knows that’s your pressure point.
But you know what?
That’s also your highest call to set others free. And so my desire to be loved, my desire to have purpose, my desire to know Him, though that is a constant battle of the enemy of my worth and my purpose, I also know that’s my highest call in Him to set others free.
So just recognize that this morning. What’s the thing that you feel you are fighting the hardest? Because the enemy knows. And he’s going to distract you to get you off that plan that God has for you.
Prayed…
So just remind us, Father, of our first love. Bring us back to that place where we’re so excited to serve you, to do what you’re calling us to do, Father.
We thank you for your faithfulness. Oh, you’re so faithful.
You’ve carried us through so many seasons of life and through it all, you’ve loved us.
You’ve loved us at our darkest, you’ve loved us at our best.
You’ve loved us at our worst, but you’ve always been faithful.
You’ve never turned your back on us.
You’ve never dropped us, and you never will.
And so now, today, we remind our hearts of all that we have to be thankful for.
We remind our souls to stir up that passion, that first love.
And I know this morning you’re saying, “I love you and I’m pleased.”
We need to hear how much He loves us…
I think some of us need to hear that this morning.
He’s pleased with you. Even in our fumbling and our trying to make it in our mistakes and our falling down and our getting up, He’s pleased with us and He loves us like a good Father. And He’s so patient and merciful.
And so now we just stir up thankfulness. We stir up that first love. We stir up those memories of what it was like when we were fiery hot for you, Father.
Word came forth…
“Why are you downcast, oh, my soul?”
There’s much to be thankful for, much to praise, but you have to be looking. You have to be looking. Sometimes it’s in the press. Sometimes it’s in the fight. Don’t be astray. Don’t be looking away. Keep your eyes on Me now. Eyes on Me now, I hear the Lord say. For I have plans, I hear Him say. The plans. Oh, the plans that I have.
And I’m looking, I’m looking, I’m looking, “Who can I send? Who can I send? Who will go?”
Whose heart is set on Me.
For surely I will go before you. Surely you will not be alone. Surely, I will equip you for all that I’ve called you to do, for nothing is too difficult with Me, says the Lord.
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing. Nothing is impossible! So bring Me your impossible situations this morning. Bring Me your impossible things. And keep your heart set on Me. Oh, for we have places to go. We have things to do.
So cooperate, cooperate, cooperate with what I’m leading you toward. Don’t kick. Don’t scream. Don’t drag. Cooperate. Cooperate.”
Responding to the word…
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Help us, Lord. Help us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
Yes. Yes. Help us, Father. Help us. Help us to cooperate with the way of the Holy Spirit. Cooperate. Cooperate.
Operating alongside and with the Holy Spirit.
Yes. Yes. Operations. Operations. Movings. Movements of the Holy Spirit.
Gifts in operation. Gifts in operation. Yeah, so we yield to that, Father.
We say you may use us. We yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit. We yield ourselves to the gifts of your Spirit.
And we don’t have to earn it. It’s a gift. But we have to cooperate. We have to walk in it. We have to step out. We have to be bold.
Oh yes. Strengthen us, Father. Strengthen us.
So now I just speak an awakening, an awakening, an awakening in our hearts.
An awakening in our families.
An awakening in this church.
An awakening in the State of Minnesota.
An awakening in the nation.
An awakening in all the nations now.
Yes, awake my soul and sing. Awakening, awakening, awakening, awakening.
No more sleep. The time for sleep is gone.
Yes, yes, yes. I hear the Spirit saying, “The time for sleeping is gone.”
Awake, awake, awake, awake, awake. Be awake. Be watchful. Be alert for what I am doing. Watch for My Spirit.
Worship Leader…
I feel like that’s a word over us this morning. To not be timid and fall into false humility, that you were made to shine with the brightness of His glory. You were made to stand out.
I really felt like Pastor Heather was sharing that like when you go back to your first love, you’re glowing. Right? You’re like in love. And I feel like that the Lord just wants that to be made known this morning. Like when you behold Him, you become like Him and He is shining brighter than a million suns.
And so if that’s for you this morning, just let that embolden you. Like God’s not afraid that you’re going to be better than Him. He’s not! He’s not afraid of your greatness. He’s not afraid of your shining bright. He wants you to be like a lamp set on a hill.
And it’s in Isaiah 60:2 that says, “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” And it’s speaking about Israel but also in this day. Rise and shine for the glory of the Lord has risen on you this morning. He has set His glory upon you and He does not share His glory with another. But we are not another. We are the bride of Christ.
And so, Lord, cause us to shine today. Cause us to stand up and rise up. Let’s just sing that one more time.
