Thy Kingdom Come – 2022

Introduction

In the time between Ascension Day and Pentecost, Thy Kingdom Come is a gift to refresh our faith, especially if we felt isolated from our community or our Church during this difficult time. In these days of hopeful waiting and praying may we all be renewed by the Spirit; made new in Christ.

These Prayers have been adapted from  Thy Kingdom Come Prayer Journal on their website

Friday 27 May 2022

1 PETER 1:12
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but
you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by
those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent
from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things

Every single person seeks meaning for their life. All of us go through life searching
for something. Perhaps we long to be loved, or accepted, or seen for who we
really are. Maybe we yearn to understand who we are ourselves, and why we’re here on
this Earth. We desire to be closer to our God and creator, even if we aren’t aware of it.
We have this desire for meaning because this is how God has made us. And it is only
His meaning which fulfils our searching. ‘You have made us O Lord for Yourself, and
our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You,’ as St Augustine famously put it.
Everyone who has ever lived has known this ache of longing. In today’s verse, Peter
talks about the prophets. They were searching too: ‘inquiring about the person or time
that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated’ (1 Peter 1:11). Even though Christ was
not yet born, the Holy Spirit was within them, enabling them to anticipate God’s
greatest gift, Christ Jesus – God with us.
Now that person is revealed, the good news announced; and we are served, we learn,
by those prophets who strove to be closer to God, over two and a half thousand years
ago. Such is the wonder of God that we don’t just make His promise known to those
around us, but we can build a chain that may help those seeking long after we are gone.
And the truly astonishing news is that what we long for most has been given to us
freely. The God we search for has not only come to us and lived with us; but died for
us! We have been brought the good news by the Holy Spirit, sent from heaven! Even
the angels have a longing, to look closer into the wonder of our salvation.
Through this gift all are drawn towards salvation. The prophets searched for it. The
angels long to look into it! God knows that we long for His presence, but our longing
for Him is but a pale reflection of His longing for us. That is why He sent His son. It’s
why He gives us His spirit.
Calling to mind the five who are the focus of your prayers, what do you detect of their
searching? How might you shine light, as the prophets of the Old Testament did, that
helps direct people towards the treasure they seek? How can your search – which will
last all of your life – point more people towards the God that extends His hand to us,
and hopes we might clasp it back?

Additional prayer resources may be found on Thy Kingdom Come Website