"Thanks Be to God..." - 12 April 2020



O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure…And you will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. You will swallow up death forever; and you, O Lord GOD, will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of your people you will take away from all the earth, for you, O LORD, have spoken” (Isaiah 25.1, 7-8); “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15.57).

On this great day as your Church all around this globe, in the Presbyterian Church in America, and in the greater Oklahoma City area, rejoices in the victory you have brought through the resurrection of Christ, we pray for those who have, and are, suffering horribly on behalf of our Lord that you would wipe away their tears and remove their reproach. Bring us all together in Christ Jesus, and bring us all to stand in one Spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel (Philippians 1:27); to stand and strive and live and love unflinchingly because Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Look mercifully and compassionately on those who are worn and weary, sick and sore, despondent and dispirited, pitiable and penniless (…). Bring them to know that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Look mercifully and compassionately on those who need to repent of their sins and embrace your Son in genuine faith (…). Bring them to declare in faith that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Look mercifully and compassionately on these United States of America, upon all citizens and inhabitants whether free born, foreign born or unborn, and upon all of our leaders. Secure our safety and wellbeing from all enemies foreign and domestic; restore wholesome industriousness in business and education; smile on our medical establishments and advancements during this trying time; reestablish the important value of marriage – one man and one woman married for life; remove all selfishness and greed; and give us your resilient aid in the face of this pandemic! Finally, bring all in this country to proclaim with lip and life that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Look mercifully and compassionately on the nations and leaders of the earth. May borders be safe, wealth bountiful, health abundant, peace plentiful, a bountiful recovery from this contagion; and bring all to rejoice that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

All of this we ask with assurance that you hear us, and confident that you will answer us because Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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