Prayer for Connect

Father, as we near the start of the first Operation Christmas Child Connect Conference of the season we pray that You will do a new work in our hearts.  We're not content with last year's blessings or yesterday's anointing.

You tell us in Lamentations that Your mercies are "new every morning" and so we give you these days to come and ask, Holy Spirit, for a fresh touch from You for each volunteer and staff member.

Jesus, give us ears to hear You in the loud celebration and in the quiet moments.  Gives us eyes to see You in the huge vision of an international explosion of evangelism and in the smile of a new friend.

Father, for those who come with discouraged or burdened hearts, we pray they'll know Your peace and Your comfort.  For those who are overwhelmed with the magnitude of the work to be done, we pray they'll gain a renewed confidence of Your step-by-step leading.

Father, we pray that each of us will hear Your Voice of Truth and turn a deaf ear to Satan, the father of lies.

Holy Spirit, cover us with a spirit of unity, we pray.  Help us to focus on You and put off any negative thoughts or words against this ministry or one another.  By Your grace,  let us lay aside criticism and comparison, self-centered thoughts and selfish pride and be driven by a love for each other that can only come from You.

God, we ask an amazing blessing for those who've worked so unswervingly to make this conference happen.  Let each of them sense Your pleasure in them in a new and particular way this weekend.

Let us infuse this hotel and city with Your light and demonstrate Your love in tangible ways to each person we meet.

Help us to rejoice in all You have done among us in 2011 while we wait on You again for Your new work for 2012.

We pray, most of all, that each of us--whether new to Operation Christmas Child or longtime veteran--will know the height and depth and width and length of Your love in new ways in these days.

For Your glory and for our satisfaction in You,
let it be.