"Dwell with Us and Revive Us!" - 13 September 2020

 

Mighty God, who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, who says “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isaiah 57:15). O dwell with us and revive us!

O Lord, our Lord, we pray for Heritage Presbyterian Church, for these churches around Oklahoma City, Frontline Church, Full Gospel Assembly, Gate Church, and harvest Church; and for your church in all places and your people being hammered and hounded and hunted down world over. We all profess our love and adoration for you, and we all confess that we are saved by your invasive and merciful love. Now, Lord, cause us to become what you have made us: Children of the Living, Holy God, who are no longer wooed by the father of lies, who are no longer caught in the snares of our own lusts and pride, but those who are thoroughly loyal to you. Give us aid and strength to be intentionally healing, caring for, and defending the fatherless, widow, abused, beat-down and messed up.

For these, Lord, who are in need of your sustaining, healing, supporting help, we pray (…).

For the nations of the world, and the USA we pray. There are physical storms raging and ravaging cities, homes, farms and lives. There are droughts and wildfires devouring creation and livelihoods. There are floods and famines mowing down the frail and fragile. There is this impoverishing and imperiling pandemic. There are brigands and banditti who are waylaying and wounding many. Lord God, have mercy on us and all peoples, and grant us relief.

Invigorate the leaders of the world, so that they would work for righteous peace; that they would make honorable the power and position entrusted to them; that they would uphold equity, morality, compassion, charitableness, and decency; and that they would defend and support activities, agencies and alliances that are genuinely good and upright. We ask all of this so that health, life and joy might prevail in all lands, and the Call of Christ might move unhindered through every region and be heard.

Lord, we have prayed for friends and family which we know, that they might be restored to the Faith of Christ or come to faith in Christ; and still we pray for them (…). But also, Lord, we beg you to look upon us: give us a missionary heart to reach out and become like our Good Shepherd who seeks out the straying sheep. Make us more vocal and active in proclaiming your praises and announcing the way of life in Jesus Christ.

Finally, gracious Father, look upon us in this new season and new semester. May all of our undertakings be enriching. Give the students new-found successes in their studies and the teachers renewed vigor and pleasures in their service. And may this coming Fall time of year be chock full of reasons to rejoice in your lovingkindnesses! Amen.