"Count It All Joy..." - 14 January 2024

 

Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Lord, please hear us and for Christ’s sake answer us. O God Most High, who uses our trials and the testing of our faith to bring about steadfast endurance in us (James 1:2-4), we ask you to lift up those who are dispirited in body or mind, those who are grieved or dreadfully disturbed with fear and anxiety, and those who are walking through troubled times in home and health. We especially ask your care for these (…). Grant them recovery, refreshment and some substantial sense of restored health.

O Lord of the Harvest: have regard to the prayers of your servants in this congregation; send us forth as laborers into your harvest; increase in us the Spirit of power, love and a sound mind; strengthen us to endure hardships as good soldiers of Jesus Christ; and grant that your Holy Spirit may prosper our work so that by our life and doctrine we may show forth your glory and bring forward the salvation of many. We ask that your hand would be on our Care Groups that they will be enriching and invigorating; hearts will be mended; hopes will be fortified; lives will be positively impacted; unbelievers and those who no longer associate with your church will come, belong and believe.

Look upon your Church throughout the world, and on Nicoma Park UMC, Penn Ave Redemption UMC, Piedmont First UMC and Putnam City UMC. Give all your comforting, courage-inspiring aid. Strengthen your people in their longing to serve you more faithfully, leading them away from the doctrines of demons to that which is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, and cause them to succeed in genuine godliness.

O Lord God, the Almighty, the Most High, we plead with you to turn your face upon these United States of America. Do not forsake us nor give us over to what we may deserve, but instead turn us toward you, and spur us on to chastity, sobriety, virtuous living, generosity and equanimity. Protect us from all enemies, foreign and domestic, and guide our governmental leaders to remember and return to their vocation “to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” And guide our President, Mr. Biden, to be true to his Presidential oath of office, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution; that to the best of his ability he would not neglect his duty, and to the best of his ability he would not go beyond his duty, by the help of God! 

Finally, we implore your kindest care and compassion on the nations of our world, especially where there is so much that upsets and alarms. All we ask because you have invited us to pray and promised to hear. And we ask in faith and in Jesus’ name. And now we pray as we have been taught, saying, Our Father…

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