"Merciful and Gracious" - 29 April 2018

O LORD, you who are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, (Exodus 34.6-7): we lay before you our prayers for your world and your church. And so we pray in the name of Christ; O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth (Psalm 54.2).

For Obet in Indonesia; Fika in Indonesia; Emmanuel in Ghana; Christell in Peru; Arlyn in El Slavador; and Yeidi in Columbia whom we are supporting and caring for through Compassion International, and for their families: May our connections with them truly help them. Bring them to flourish in health and education. Provide them with clean drinking water. Supply their families with beneficial employ that they may care well for their families. And may they all know you and your Son Jesus Christ. And so we pray; O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

For those who have no one to pray for them: alone, abandoned, abducted, enslaved, ignored, or eliminated. Take up their cause, O Lord, and show them that you know them and know where they are. Rescue them, raise them up, refresh them, and restore them to their families or to society. And where evilness and iniquity have entrapped them, bring justice. And so we pray; O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

For those who are ailing…; for those who are have received disappointing diagnoses…; for those buried under a suffocating pile of bills and debts…; for those hurting personally and in their families…; may your Spirit’s presence bring them unlooked for comfort and strength, and may they be surrounded by loving friends and loving family. And so we pray; O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

For the nations of the world – including Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, and Monaco – show forth your strength, power, justice and goodness. Restrain the saber-rattling; cause to end the bloodletting and butchering; lift up peace, elevate decency and exalt integrity. Bring forth the day when the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. And so we pray; O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

For the United States of America, the State of Oklahoma, and our cities and townships: we desire our country to flourish economically, educationally, ethically, in government and in our communities and homes; for which we earnestly pray. Help us to be part of your cure and not part of the disease. And so we pray; O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. 

Finally, for your church in every corner of the world and here at home – counting this congregation, Harvest Hills Baptist Church; Jordon Baptist; Light House Baptist, and Metropolitan Baptist. As we heard this morning that your Spirit is Jesus focused and all about building up and building together Jesus’ church. We pray for your Spirit to fill-up your church, leading us to your truth, drawing us constantly to Jesus, restoring our fractures and refurbishing our foibles. And so we pray in the name of Christ; O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. Amen.