"Lord, You Said..." - 1 September 2024
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Lord,
you said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys
and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.” We pray for your church here and
world over, including Lutheran Church of Our Savior, The Lord’s House, Lord of
Love Lutheran, and Madison St. Church of God. Instead of her looking for
earthly fame or fortune, please replenish her with your own steadying strength,
stabilizing aid, resilient love, long-lasting commitment, unwavering godliness
and sound doctrine, so that her treasure and heart will always be deposited
with you.
You also warned us, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one
and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
cannot serve God and money.” We pray for heretics and
hucksters, for those who have never submitted to your Son Jesus Christ, along
with those who once made a good confession but have now made shipwreck of their
faith (…). Shine the light of your mercy and grace into their hearts that they
may no longer try to serve two masters or the wrong master, and bring them to
new life in Christ and singlehearted loyalty to you.
Then
you encouraged us, “Therefore do not be
anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall
we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them all.” High King of Heaven,
who is never caught unawares, even though the actions of humankind may grieve
you; we sincerely implore you to grant our country safety from all enemies foreign
and domestic. And cause the people of this
nation to know that you are not a tight-fisted God, but an open-handed Father. We
also ask you to pour out your merciful kindness on all nations so that order,
stability, and tranquility may be established for the good of all people, and
for the good of your Church.
Finally,
you directed us, “But seek first the
kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to
you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious
for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
O God, heavenly Father, by your Son Jesus Christ you have promised to all those
who seek your kingdom and your righteousness that you would care for their
necessities; look on those who are straining under the weight of disease,
ailments, poverty, depression, mental or physical afflictions, and striving to
keep their heads above water (…). Raise them up from their misery or
misfortune, granting them strength and hope that they may be relieved from
anxiety, and spend the rest of their lives serving, glorifying and enjoying you:
now, always and forever.[1]
And now we join together to pray as you taught us, saying, Our Father…
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