Our Father... - 23 July 2023

 

Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed be Thy name: we lift our hearts in thankful delight that you gladly call us your children, and have pleasure in being known as our Father! We are thankful that for your own name’s sake you have saved us in your Son Jesus; that you are now saving us; and when Christ returns, we shall be saved! Therefore, we pray…

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven: Oh may we always serve you here as we will one day serve you there. May kingdoms, nations and countries – to include these United States of America, Qatar, Romania, Russia, and Rwanda – let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24); that none would pervert the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow (Deuteronomy 27:19); that none would oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, or devise evil against another in their hearts, but rather that all would render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, (Zechariah 7:9-10). Additionally, may our mission trip to Carnegie this week be even more clearly an active part of your kingdom coming, and your will being done! Further we pray…

Give us this day our daily bread: look upon our worries, concerns, wants and lacks, and provide all that we need. Look upon those in pain, hurting, suffering, sick or sore, grieving or distressed (…). Send daily help, fill them with daily hope, and daily raise their hearts. Also, we ask…

Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors: help us with changes of heart and attitude, to be ready to forgive those who ask; and to be just as ready to own up to our peculiar sins and faults and ask those we’ve wronged for forgiveness. And may we be effective peacemakers between estranged people. Moreover, we ask…

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: we ask this for ourselves, our families, our congregation, for Metroplex Church of the Nazarene, Midwest City, Moore and Oakcliff Church of the Nazarene, for all of our congregations in the Hills and Plains Presbytery, and for your church throughout the world. We ask this so that we may bless those who persecute us; bless and not curse; that we may rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep; that we may live in harmony with one another, not be haughty, but associate with the lowly and never be wise in our own sight; that we may not repay evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all; that where possible, so far as it depends on us, we may live peaceably with all, not avenging ourselves; so that we may not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:14-21). And so we lift up our voices and hearts to declare your praise and say…

Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. 

And now we pull all of our petitions together, joining our voices and hearts and pray as our Lord Jesus directed, saying, Our Father, who art in heaven…

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