happy New Year friends is a cherita here and if you set a goal this year to pray more consistently and intentionally then I have good news for you not only do you have this podcast as a resource but our friends at Moody Publishers are offering you a 40% discount on my book prayers of rest daily prompt slow down and hear God's voice so just this next week from January 2nd to the 10th you can go to Moody Publishers. Calm and enter the code prayers of rest for that's 40 at checkout to get your special podcast listener discount all right let's jump into today's episode
 welcome to the prayers of Wrath podcast I'm your host Ashley that YouTube and say we're praying for single that's right I have friends who are single you might be wondering why are we praying about this during Drake relationships and it's because those of us who are not single and are adult years who are married it's difficult sometimes to relate to our friends and the challenges that they face specifically in being single as adults
 later this week I'm also sharing a conversation with my good friend Melissa fell to Bar as we talked about what it's like to be single and how those of us who are married can come alongside and love and serve and encourage her single friends and today we start by praying for them if you're listening to this today and you're single I invite you to personalize it for yourself and if you're not ask God to bring to mind the names of a few of your single friends that you can pray for today specifically by name and then text let them know that you prayed for them and ask them how they're doing it might just make their day
 as we begin take a deep breath as we become aware of God's loving presence around us and within us
 face passage comes from a fusions Chapter 4 verses 15 to 16
 speaking the truth in love we will grow to become an every respect the mature body of him who is behead his Christ from him the whole body jolene's and held together by every supporting ligament grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work
 let's begin by reciting God's goodness praising him for who he is and for what he's done in our lives
 oh God you are so good to give us exactly what we need in the body of Christ Jesus you are head and you have made us members of one another and we praise you for your beautiful design to include our single sisters and brothers in this body of Christ that we are to depend on one another and learn from one another and serve one another how beautiful it is when we can all celebrate what you are doing and our Lives who you are as you bring us together in unity
 does he think about your friends who are single what have you learned about God has you see Jesus in them what has God revealed about himself and your relationship with them and how can you praise him for who he is and the beautiful and wonderful ways that he has created all of us together to be part of the body of Christ
let's continue Now by expressing our neediness
 God we confess that we're not always good at reaching out and embracing and welcoming those who are different from us
 add it's easy for the body of Christ to be really clicky who has certain parts those of us who look more like or who are in certain Seasons that are similar to each other and yet you've made us to be dependent on one another to need each other and so I asked that your spirit would move in us that we might celebrate those who are single among us as essential to a healthy body of Christ that we would look for ways to involve them in our friendship the families in our communities that they might not feel lonely or alone but that they might know just how loved they are by you and by us
 and I pray that you would move me today that I might open my eyes to see who it is around me my single friends that might need a text message or an encouragement something to let them know just how valuable and important they are
 so now brings it on those friends who are single and intercede on their behalf for their specific needs and if you don't know their needs and maybe reach out with a text but after this time of prayer and ask them how you can be praying for them
 next we take time to seek on Stillness I encourage you during this time to sit with Jesus not just the author and Perfecter of our faith but the head and the body of Christ
 and consider that he was single
 he lived his entire life without the companionship of a spouse what does that tell you
 about the Beauty and the worth in the value of every person whether single or married and is there anything else that God wants to say to you today
 finally let stress God's faithfulness
 God was so thankful for your promise that as we speak the truth and love as we remind ourselves of what is true and beautiful and bright that we will grow together in every way that we will become mature as body of Christ in God we trust you to continue working this out in us in our local churches in our communities and God I pray that today you might help my friends who are single to know just how important they are to you to me to our church and I trust that you will continue the good work that you have started in them and I I ask that you would allow me to be a small part of that I might encourage my sister and my brother
 but they might know you would love to my touch today so as you end this time of prayer what does it look like to ultimately trust God in this relationship
 is there anything that he is asking you to do or to say to obey
 commit trusting in Him and resting in him in this relationship
 no to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to resent you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our savior be glory and Majesty power and authority through Jesus Christ Our Lord before all ages now and forevermore amen
 even listening to the prayers of rice podcast which is the production of one thing alone Ministries helping you enjoy Jesus Through creative Bible habits this episode is based on my conversation with my friend Melissa Zaza far as she shares an inside look and what it's like to be a single and stays Church you might want to check that out later this week on Thursday and share it with your single friends as well and ask them what is this like for you and how can I be praying more for you
 we have so many generous Patron prayer partners and it's their financial support that brings you this podcast for a week so thank you to Tracy lawn season huge and Mark and Bethany Scheffler who I'm told listen to these prayers with their teenage daughters in the car
 I'm so happy that we get to be a part of your morning commute and it's a joy to partner with each of you in this way to bring the good news of Jesus and the rest we have in him to the whole world so thank you for that thank you also to in Elkins for editing this episode Robert Elkins the music and Kendra Stanton we're producing this podcast and thank you sir for sharing each episode with your friends for gathering together and praying for one another and texting one another these prayers it is my joy to serve you this way and for us to pray together week after week here on the prayers or press podcast through until we meet again may you find rest in God's loving presents