"O LORD, I Am Your Servant" - 11 August 2024

 

“O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the LORD, (…) Praise the LORD” (Psalm 116:16-19)! O LORD, we thank you for saving us from many dangers and devastations – known and unknown; for providing us with livelihoods and loves; for filling us with good things and being a God of steadfast love and faithfulness. Glory to you, O God Most High! 

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: O God, how we long to see you honored by all; to be reverenced and held in high regard by presidents and presidential candidates of all parties, constituents and denizens in all regions, by multiple Medias world over, family members, fellow workers, friends and foes. Since the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure (Isaiah 33:6c), may the hallowing of your name become a premier priority amongst your people. Give your fatherly discipline, deliverance and direction to your Church world over, here in America, this congregation, as well as Holy Temple Church of God, Holy Trinity Lutheran, House of Prayer, and Iglesia Bautista Independencia. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven: We desire to see your reign filled in and filled out from “the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:31). Therefore, we intercede on behalf of the Bangladesh Pastors Project; the Iverson’s in Japan; the Pardigons; John Robert Biggs at RUF OSU; James Post at RUF OU; the RUF Univ. of Tulsa; and the Youngs in North Mexico. That you would provide support, strength, stamina and success in their work. And be with those who frequent our church playground that they would be drawn in to hear the Gospel. And may your kingdom, your reign, come on our country and all nations of this earth. Give us this day our daily bread: Father, you supply our every need. There are some here who have serious needs (…). Provide them what they have need of. And we confess that all we have, in all of the plenty, comes from you. Help us to be rich in good works, to give abundantly, and to not neglect to do good and to share what we have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to you (Hebrews 13:16). And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors: Instead of holding grudges and demanding our pound of flesh, may your gracious mercy strike us with such weight and force afresh that we would become quick to forgive those who have wronged us, and just as quick to ask forgiveness of those whom we have wronged. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one: Look mercifully, O Good Shepherd, on this your flock; and suffer not the sheep which you have redeemed with your precious blood to be torn in pieces by the assaults of the devil, the flesh and the world. Thank you that you have rescued us from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and the pride of sin. We long with earnest yearning for you to return where we will be forever free from the presence of sin! For thine is the kingdom, and power, and the glory forever. Amen! And now, Lord, we collect all of our prayers together and join together to pray as our Lord Jesus taught us, saying, Our Father…

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