"I, Even I Am He" - Morning and Evening Prayer - 22 January 2017

Sunday morning:

Thus says the LORD: “‘See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand” (Deuteronomy 32.39). Therefore we adore you, the only God; we worship you, God over life and death, hurt and health!

Have mercy, we pray, on all who have turned their backs to you and not their faces….give them to your Son that he may never lose them but raise them up on the last day.

Have mercy, we pray, on all who are beat up, badgered, beleaguered, broke and brittle…grant them the specific aid they need – whether monetary, medical, medicinal or mending – and raise them up to rejoice in your goodness, and lift their hearts and voices in thanksgiving.

Have mercy, we pray, on those women who feel pressured and oppressed to the point that they have contemplated abortion, and those misguided and misled by tricky managers. Have mercy on children in the womb. Give mother and child safety, health, and futures filled with love. Turn the hearts of those who think that abortion, euthanasia or suicide are honorable, sane “choices” or rights. Turn their hearts, and may they come to embrace the God-given blessing of life.

Have mercy, we pray, on our own nation. May the good and right prevail, while evil, greed, envy and crime be upturned and upended. Strengthen and invigorate the inhabitants of this land to maintain justice, promote equanimity, show compassion for the powerless, and thrive in your common grace. We also pray that you would be with our leaders, our new President Mr. Trump, Vice-President Mr. Pence, as well as our Oklahoma State Senators, such as Lonnie Paxton, Roland Pederson, Dewayne Pemberton, Anastasia Pittman, Adam Pugh, and Marty Quinn. Pull-back on plans and ambitions that are immoral or improper, and send forward those desires, legislations and executive orders that are genuinely good, wholesome, and will “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.”

Have mercy, we pray, on all nations of this world, that peace, prosperity and propriety would blossom that families, children, the widowed, the handicapped, and the orphaned may all live in relative safety; that infrastructures would be made operational and secure; schools and medical institutions be properly equipped, outfitted and staffed. To this end, we pray for national leaders, to include George Konrote; Sauli Niinistö; François Hollande; Ali Bongo Ondimba; Yahya Jammeh; Giorgi Margvelashvili; and Joachim Gauck. May they lead with honor, execute their offices with integrity, and exemplify uprightness.

Have mercy, we pray, on your church throughout the world, throughout North America and Oklahoma, to include Heritage and these congregations in the OKC area; Iglesia Cristina Rey De Gloria; Iglesia De Cristo Elim; Iglesia de Restauracion El Monte Olivos; Iglesia ni Cristo; and Iglesia Senda De Vida. Grant unto us all things that are needful for our welfare (body, soul and mind). Strengthen and confirm the faithful, visit and relieve the sick, bless and protect the children, recover the fallen, restore the repentant, remove all hindrances to the advancement of your Truth, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within the fold of your holy Church, to the honor and glory of your holy name.

All of these requests we have mentioned, and those that have remained silently on our hearts…we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Saving Lord. Amen.

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Sunday evening:

LORD God, our Father, you are the Rock, whose work is perfect, for all your ways are justice. You are a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright are you (Deuteronomy 32.4). Thank you for being all of this in yourself; and being all of this for us. Now O Lord, hear our prayer.

O God, most holy, wise and powerful Preserver and Governor of all your creatures and all of our actions: Keep us in health of body and soundness of mind, in purity of heart and cheerfulness of spirit, in contentment with our lot and charity with our neighbor; and further all of our lawful undertakings with your blessing.  In our labor strengthen us; in our pleasure purify us; in our difficulties direct us; in our perils defend us; in our troubles comfort us; and supply all our needs, according to the riches of your grace in Christ Jesus. O Lord, hear our prayer.

Father, we pray for those we know from our daily dealings, neighbors, people we meet at the grocery store or outside Walmart, as well as those under the bridges and intersections holding their cardboard signs; people who are in real need, and people who play on the vulnerabilities and emotions of others; people who mishandle their resources and people who play for drugs and drink; people who are genuinely poor and those who are being devious and deceitful;… First, help us to fathom and perceive who it is that really needs help, and how best to help them in ways that will not finance their self-destruction. But also, grant to them all a new way, your new way that they may be freed from their lifestyles and life-long habits. O Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray that you would be with those in our neighborhoods where we live…turn our suburbs and subdivisions into real neighborhoods and communities of caring people who treat one another with respect, interest, kindness and friendliness and will look out for each other’s best interests. O Lord, hear our prayer.

We ask you to be with our friends at Northwest Bible Church, their pastor, Alan Connor; and their elders, Alan Loeffler and DeWayne Bolin. Fill their congregation with hope, peace and joy. May they be a bright light beckoning those who are walking in the darkness; a refuge for those fleeing the storms raging in their lives and hearts. O Lord, hear our prayer.

Our Father, we pray for our denomination, this congregation, and these churches in our Presbytery, Rockwall Presbyterian Church; Lakeside Presbyterian Church; Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Temple and in Waco; Fifth Street Presbyterian Church; Weatherford Presbyterian Church. We pray that you, our God, would make us worthy of your calling and would fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by your power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in us, and we in him, according to your grace, O our God and our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1.11-12). O Lord, hear our prayer.