Welcome to the prayers of breast podcast. I'm your host, Ashrida Chuchu, and we're beginning our season of praying through tricky relationships by praying through church hurt.

Unfortunately, so many of us have experienced fractured relationships, broken trust, and

sometimes even outright spiritual abuse in our local churches. If that's been you, first of all,

I'm so sorry, friend. That is not what God intended for our local church. And I hope you tune in later this week to hear my

conversation with Pastor Mike Costelli, the pastor of our local church, as he and I talk through

a crisis that our own church went through last summer, as well as how God was so good and faithful through the process and how

we're continuing to heal by sharing our church stories. But I want you to join me today in bringing

these challenging relationships from our local church in prayer before God. And if that's not you, if you haven't

experienced that, I'm so, so happy for you, but I would bet that someone you know is probably

experiencing church hurt. And I encourage you to pray for them today. Adapt this prayer to intercede on their behalf.

It might be exactly what they need today.

So as we begin, take a deep breath as we become aware of God's loving presence around us and within us.

Today's passage comes from Psalm 28, verses 1 through 2. To you, Lord, I call.

You are my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent,

I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help,

as I lift up my hands toward your most holy place.

So let's begin by reciting God's goodness, praising Him for who he is and for what he has done

in our lives.

Lord God, thank you that you are our rock.

That even when relationships in our local church feel

turbulent, when there is challenge and difficulty, when we are dealing with gossip and slander

or backstabbing, you are the one who hears us calling out to you. You are the one who invites us to

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