Seeking Wisdom Like Silver - 21 January 2024

 

All-knowing God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God; you have taught us in Proverbs that if we seek wisdom like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then we will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For you give wisdom; from your mouth come knowledge and understanding; you store up sound wisdom for the upright; you are a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of your saints. (Proverbs 2:4-8). In this regard we pray for, and with, these who are seeking wisdom:

For those making career decisions, we pray that you would guide them to places and circumstances that will be truly good for them, personally, professionally, parentally and with regard to piety. For those who are retired and moving deeper into their senior years, we pray that you would show them how their experiences and abilities may be well used to make disciples, build-up families, and aid your world rescue operation. For those growing up, we pray that you would steer them to mature as godly and healthy adults, and to walk in your wise ways whether at home, college, work, the military, in relationships, and in your church. For those who are widowed, divorced or have never been married, we pray that you would fill them with life, hope, heart, joy and peace as they live each day, and that they would flourish in your family. For those who are married, we pray that you would help them in their relationships and marriages; that their marriages would reflect Christ and the Church and be splashing over with harmony, holiness, happiness and healthiness. For those fraught with depression or trudging through a dry and weary land where there is no water, we pray that you would show them the way up and out, raising them from the gloom and keeping them from sinking into themselves. For those crumbled down with poor health or encumbered with ongoing issues and treatments, we pray that you would hold their heads above the water line. For those who are pregnant and are being pressured to get an abortion, we pray that you would place wholesome people and voices around them who will help them that they will not seek life-ending solutions, but settle for the life of their child. For your people on all seven continents, this congregation, and Quayle UMC, St. Andrews, St. Mary’s CME, and St. Paul’s UMC, we pray that your Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the LORD, will fill them with the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control. We pray that your Spirit will direct them away from all error into all truth; and will raise them up to testify truly and clearly of Jesus Christ.

For our country and all the nations of the earth, we pray. Since righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to any people, we pray that you would bring all states and realms to understand righteousness, justice and equity, along with every good path, to progressively embrace what is right, renounce what is wrong, and cultivate the good of all people. All we ask in faith and Jesus’ name. And now we pray as we have been taught, saying, Our Father…