"Thanks be to God...!" - 5 April 2026

 

O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure…And you will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. You will swallow up death forever; and you, O Lord GOD, will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of your people you will take away from all the earth, for you, O LORD, have spoken” (Isaiah 25:1, 7-8); “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

On this great day as your Church all around this globe, in the Presbyterian Church in America, and in the greater Oklahoma City area, rejoices in the victory you have brought through the resurrection of Christ, we pray for those who have, and are, suffering horribly on behalf of our Lord that you would wipe away their tears and remove their reproach. Bring us all to stand in one Spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel (Philippians 1:27); to stand and strive and live and love unflinchingly because Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Look mercifully and compassionately on those who are worn and weary, sick and sore, despondent and dispirited, pitiable and penniless (…). Bring them to know that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Look mercifully and compassionately on those who need to repent of their sins and embrace your Son in genuine faith, and who need to return to Jesus (…). Bring them to declare in faith that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Look mercifully and compassionately on these United States of America, upon all citizens and inhabitants whether free born, foreign born or unborn, and upon all of our leaders. Secure our safety and wellbeing from all enemies foreign and domestic; restore wholesome industriousness in business and education; smile on our medical establishments and advancements; reestablish the important value of marriage – one man and one woman married for life; remove all selfishness and greed; and give us your resilient aid in the face of this conflict in the Persian Gulf! Finally, bring all in this country to proclaim with lip and life that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Look mercifully and compassionately on the nations and leaders of the earth. May borders be safe, wealth bountiful, health abundant, peace plentiful; and bring all men and women, boys and girls, from every tribe and language and nationality to rejoice that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And now we pray in the power of the Spirit as he taught us, saying, Our Father…

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pastors and Prayer (Contentment, Counseling Situations, and Leadership)

Image
  Years ago, in a situation long ago, in a different space and time continuum, I wrote these prayers. They were for me, as a pastor, in the midst of disappointment and feeling of deep defeat. I have drawn them back up out of the bowels of long unused files to dust them off and re-use them. I'm using them again not in the midst of disappointment and deep defeat, but because I think they are decent prayers, no matter my situation. I share them with you, fellow pastors, so you can use them, and hopefully find your heart lifted and the face of God smiling on you. He loves you, more than anyone else ever could, and he loves your congregation more than you ever can. FOR CONTENTMENT:   O Lord God - help! ·          Help me to flourish and fill out in faith, hope and love, as well as all other Christian virtues  - here . ·          Help me to find satisfaction with where I am, with whom I am with, wit...
Read more

"Counterfeit Kingdom" by Pivec and Geivett. A Review.

Image
  Some fifteen years ago he sat in my church study. He was the minister of a large charismatic church in town and had come to invite me to join a new reforming “movement,” the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). I had never heard of this movement, but he claimed it had apostles and prophets whom God had raised up to reignite the church and restore America to her Christian roots. Since those days I have heard more and more about the NAR, and began to notice how some prominent church leaders, pastors, and a few politicians, who are   aligned with the NAR and are coming into influence in our civil government. I knew I needed to learn more and was glad to find a very readable 272-page softback that addressed this program. “Counterfeit Kingdom: The Dangers of New Revelation, New Prophets, and New Age Practices in the Church” was put together by Holly Pivec, blogger and author of several books on the New Apostolic Reformation, who also served as university editor at Biola University fo...
Read more

"For Your Church and World..." - 7 September 2025

Image
  Lord God, we come to intercede for your Church and world. We ask you to strengthen this congregation that in doing all things without complaining and disputing, we may become increasingly blameless, pure in quality, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation (Philippians 2:14-15). Be pleased to make us even more harmonious and to become more clearly a sign of grace to our fractured and fragmented world. Also, add to this church such as are being saved; and add to us in such a way as will mirror the new heavens and new earth, reflecting the new Jerusalem in which will dwell people from every tribe, tongue, nationality, and economic strata, gathered around your throne exalting you and hearing you say, “ Behold, I am making all things new ” (Revelation 21:1-5)! We ask for your ongoing help, strength, protection, deliverance and sustenance of your Church throughout the world, especially in places where she is being abused and persecuted; but als...
Read more