Prayer For Refreshing As We Endure Scorching Heat

Well as many of you know, these have been days of unprecedented heat here in Western Canada.  Too many records have been broken to mention most of them but we did break the all-time heat record in Canada 3 times in one town here.  Hotter than Las Vegas is what we were told.

We were warned in advance so we did make some plans and thankfully there are lots of places with water nearby.  We took an “extended long weekend” from Friday to Tuesday and from ocean to river to lake found relief from the oppressive heat.  There really was no way to stay indoors safely.  The alarming number of heat related deaths over this time period really says it all.  We pray for those families who grieve the loss of these loved ones.

Well, as you’ve seen from previous days we’ve been running some videos of outdoor water spots.  The difference in temperature between being in the shade near water and being on the top floor of an apartment building has been dramatic.

So, it only seems right to me today that we pray and thank God for water for refreshing, and for all the cleansing and purifying God promises us as He uses the water metaphor in the Bible.

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Hebrews 10:22

We do draw near to You God.  We’re so grateful for the invitation to be with You and to have You with us during both the uneventful and the challenging times we face. 

We’re grateful for the rock solid faith we have that when we come to You for cleansing we can be fully assured that You will sprinkle our hearts with the blood of the Lord Jesus and wash us free from anything that would give us a guilty conscience.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  Isiah 43:2

As we’ve said so many other times, we know that we will go through tough times in this life that seem like deep waters that will flood and overwhelm us.  But, once again Your promise is that You will be with us and no matter what happens around us You will hold us safe.  How grateful we are for this kind of consistent and loving care.

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.  Isaiah 58:11

We submit ourselves, to Your guidance. Thank You for providing generously for us.  We cannot name back to You all the times You have met our needs during times that seemed sun scorched.  You’ve strengthened us.  You’ve refreshed us.  You’ve never failed us.  Thank You.

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.  Psalm 63:1

So once again today God we come to You because we need You.  As the writer of the Psalm said, we earnestly seek You.  We pray that as we are aware of our thirst for cold water on these hot days that we will be reminded of how desperately we need You and the river of living water You promise to be inside us by the power the Holy Spirit.

Jesus you said: whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”  John 4:14

We receive that living water You are giving today with thanks.  Amen

Things are cooling off some.  It’s now only “hot” rather than “overwhelmingly hot.”  But I pray we will keep God’s promises of refreshing and cleansing in mind throughout this day.