You Are the LORD, and There Is No Other - 15 August 2021

 

Our Father, you are the LORD, and there is no other. You form the light and create darkness; you make peace and create calamity (Isaiah 45:7). You, O LORD, do all these things that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides you. It is to you that we come and pray, in the strength of the Spirit and dressed in the righteousness of Christ Jesus. Mighty God, rebuild and refurbish peace, order, and justice in the nations of the world, especially Afghanistan, Cuba, Ethiopia, Haiti, (…) so that the peoples in these lands may live safely, thrive soundly, and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bring relief to those in our own country who have been hit hard by financial woes, lost all of their belongings in wildfires and by severe drought, or been knocked down with sudden grief. Give our elected and appointed leaders prudence and perseverance in governing our debt that we may not misuse or misspend our future. Preside over the decisions of our judges to eschew immorality and inequality. Cause the hearts of the inhabitants of this nation to move toward prudent level-headedness, honesty, and virtue. Preserve our country from evil and falsehood. And be pleased to send us rains in the amounts we need, here and especially in the western regions of our country.

Shower kindness, restoration, and compassionate help on all who are in turmoil, who are abused, defeated, broken, ailing, or overcome by gloom (…).

For your Church universal we pray, including Holiness Restoration Church, Holy Cross Lutheran, Holy Temple Church of God, and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Direct all of your peoples’ plans and actions in line with your holy purposes; and replenish our lack with your bounty.

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins and the sins of others and give us the liberty and liberality of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. We pray especially for those who, right now, feel that their future is uncertain, unclear, and iffy. Draw them up from the pit, out of the miry bog, and set their feet upon a rock, upon Christ the solid rock, because all other ground is sinking sand, and make their steps secure (Psalm 40:2).

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy; be gracious to all whom we pray for that have not been born again and those who have gone astray from your ways (…….), bring them with repentant hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast to their only hope, Jesus Christ; to the unchangeable truth of your Word; and to the fellowship of your visible Church, outside of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation (WCF 25.2). And use us that we may be a part of your saving and restoring work. 

All of these requests we bring to you through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, and we pray as he taught us, saying, Our Father…