Weekly Prayer Devotional

Updated weekly with a devotional from one of our leaders, and opportunities to pray for the needs of our church family.

Prayer request

This Week's Call To Faith

What part of your life could you hand over to God to discover the true contentment He has for you? 

Thoughts From This Week's Leader

MICHAEL JOHNSON - Leadership Team

(Men’s Bible study participant &
occasional after 2nd service chair stacker)

For the Week of August 25, 2025

For the Week of August 25, 2025


I have been thinking recently about seasons – both how close I feel to God in my spiritual walk and the weather changes that occur in Michigan based on the date. 

I am not always close to God because when life is going ‘well’, I allow work, house projects, finances, Fantasy baseball, the Cubs and many other earthly things to get in the way. Life starts going ‘less well’, God feels distant until I recognize the distance and/or need a prayer answered, forgiveness for sin, or a rescue. Despite how I feel toward God, God is always close to me and seeks me out inviting me into community with him. 

Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me”. 

Pastor Joe Aug 10, 2025 “The biggest tests of faith typically happen in the middle of our journey when a crisis hits. Tragedy, disappointment, boredom, burnout or an old pattern of sin strikes us and we find it hard to stick with it. Avoid the temptation to drop out. Simply show up. Why? God will meet you in your doubts and frustrations and bring you to a new level of faith.”

Praise

Praise

I appreciate living in Michigan and the diversity of the seasons which are not available everywhere. 

Eccl 3:11 NIV “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

I appreciate the current Summer Season; the beauty of nature; and that Crossroads ministry leaders get a break to recharge. That said, I look forward to the Fall because that means Men’s Bible study resumes and I get to hang out with my brothers! The community, recognition that I am not the only imperfect person, and study of God’s Word at Men’s bible study is like physical exercise. Before exercise, I can always come up with an excuse to skip; however I always am glad after exercise that I went to the Gym. Same for men’s Bible study – I may feel like fill in the blank reasons for not attending Men’s study however the reality is, being with others and discussing God’s word keeps me closer in my walk.

Lament

Lament

I lament how often I get wrapped up in the worries of life. I forget that planet earth is not my home. I forget that this life is not the end and that God has made a perfect plan for Life, Salvation, and eternity possible not by anything that I do but by His Grace.

Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast

I lament that I let my family (Deb, Hannah, and Allison) down repeatedly through sin I have not conquered.

2 Cor 7-10 “I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Prayers for Our World

Prayers for Our World

Mathew West – Do something lyrics “I just couldn’t bear the thought of people living in poverty, children sold into slavery, the thought disgusted me so I shook my head toward Heaven and said God why don’t you do something? He said I did - I created you”.

My prayer is that the Holy Spirit nudges you and I to bloom where we are planted and that through our gifts, we play the specific role God had in mind for His Kingdom whether at Crossroads or wherever the Sprit leads you.

Eph 2:10 NIV “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”.

Hope

Hope

Christ’s church is the hope of the world. Neither Crossroads nor any other church is perfect because there are no perfect people. If there was a perfect church, I would not be allowed on the property. I have hope for our world because of lives I see lived for Jesus at my local church.

Since I have enjoyed our recent study of Philippians, I will end with this verse: 

Phil 1:3-5 I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Crossroads Ministries

Next Sunday's Service

Please pray for Pastor Phil, as he prepares for next week's service.

Visitors - Lift up the visitors that have been coming to Crossroads. May they feel the love of God among us. For those who are searching, we pray they will hear the truth and ask questions.


This Week's Leader and Ministry Highlight

Leader:
Please pray for Miss Shannon
Children's Director

Ministries:

Renewed Hope Counseling
Children's Volunteers

Continued Prayers for Long Term Illness

Karalyn Lovelady – Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Clare Allen – Dialysis

Ken Kramer – Melanoma

Dave Bonello (Dave Chatel’s friend) – Cancer treatments

Charleigh – 3-year-old with Leukemia

Cindy – Step-sister of Shannon Garber

Amanda Sells’ Parents – Cancer

Erin Tate – Cancer

Julie Martin – Friend of Westphal’s

Rob – Joe & JoAnne’s neighbor

Scot - friend of Danielle Dominak stage 4 Lung cancer 

Continued Prayers For Those Grieving

Burpee Family - Passing of Beth's father (8/25)

Peavyhouse Family (Sandy, Mike, Phil) - Passing of their husband, father and grandfather Phil (7/25)

Paul Gjerpen - Passing of wife Sherry (6/25)

Julie DeMull - Passing of husband Skip (3/25)

Scott Valentine – Passing of his dad (3/25)

The Westphal Family– Passing of Francine’s mom (3/25)

Karen Green – passing of her father (1/25)

The Knakal Family – Passing of Marley’s mom (10/24) Aunt (1/25) Joe’s grandmother (3/25)

Cindy Achatz – Passing of her niece, April (12/24)

The Veltri Family – Passing of Bentley Charles (11/24)

Chatel Family – Passing of Linda’s mom (11/24)

Danielle Dominik – Loss of Chris (11/24)

Prayers For Freedom

Pray for anyone you know and love that is struggling with substance abuse, mental illness & other strongholds.

Prayers For Salvation

Lord, please open a path for [person’s name] to come to know and accept You as their Lord and Savior.  Please place people in their lives who are a loving example of what it means to know and follow You.  I pray they will receive Your love and grace.

And all God's people said

AMEN!

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