Evening Pastoral Prayer - 20 April 2014

Blessed are you, O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to your great mercy, you have caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us, who by your power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Bring us to rejoice in this imperishable inheritance, even though now for a little while, if necessary, we may be, at times, grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of our faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1.3-7). O Lord, hear our prayer.

O God most high, we acknowledge that you are right and just, even when your wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who often suppress your truth in unrighteousness. We love this nation you have providentially placed us in. But we confess that we, as a nation, in declaring ourselves wise – and often times implying that we think we are wiser than you – show ourselves to be fools. O Lord, do not give us up in the lusts of our heart to impurity, dishonoring our bodies among ourselves; do not give us up to dishonorable passions; do not give us up to a debased mind that seeks to do what ought not to be done (Romans 1.18-28). Lord God, Mighty in mercy and justified in your anger – in wrath remember mercy (Habakkuk 3.2d)! O God! Have mercy on our nation! O Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray on behalf of your Church world-over; this congregation; Victory Church; Victory Missionary Baptist Church; Victory Temple COGIC; Waterloo Church of the Nazarene;; all of the congregations of the Christian and Missionary Alliance; The Brethren; The Charismatic Episcopal Church; Free Methodists. You know what goes on behind closed doors; you know what the needs of your people are, even before they see their need; you are the one who loves your church more than anyone else does. Therefore we pray for you to defend and protect your people from all enemies foreign and domestic; rectify the things that may be rotten; strengthen the things that are weak; vivify those who are faint; and fill up that which is lacking, for the sake of your honor and fame. O Lord, hear our prayer.

Caring God, we pray for you to restore the bodies, nightmares, aspirations, longings, and minds of those who are drained, despairing, dejected or distressed; we pray especially for those fighting and being faced with Depression, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, MS, Cancer, Bipolar issues, Aging concerns, Debilitating migraines, etc … O Lord, hear our prayer.

All of these prayers we offer through Your Son, Jesus Christ, as we now sing:

Hear our prayer, O Lord;

hear our prayer, O Lord.

Incline Thine ear to us,

and grant us Thy peace (TH # 728).