"Who Leads Us in the Way We Should Go" - 13 March 2022

 

O LORD, our Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: you are the LORD our God, who teaches us to profit, who leads us in the way we should go (Isaiah 48:17); to you we pray.

You who have called your people; you who are the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Isaiah 48:12); we pray for your universal Church and these churches in the larger OKC area: First Indian Baptist Church, Followers of Christ Baptist, Friendship Baptist, and Galilee Baptist. May we press on to know you, and may you come to us as the dawn, as the showers and spring rains that water the earth. Help us to sow righteousness, to reap steadfast love, to break up our fallow ground, to seek you so that you will come and rain righteousness on us. And by your restraining hand and truth-guiding Spirit, may we not plow iniquity, reap injustice, or eat the fruit of lies by trusting in our own way, in the multitude of our own strength (Hosea 6:3; 10:12-13).

For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist (1 Corinthians 8:6); therefore we pray for this congregation that you would supply every need of ours according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19); that we would continue to grow in love, more and more; and that from this church your word would continue to increase and prevail mightily (Acts 19:20).

The heavens declare your righteousness, for you, O God, are judge (Psalm 50:6)! We pray for the nations of this world and the leaders of the nations. Cause what is good, fair, right, and wholesome to succeed and thrive, and that which is immoral, impious, dishonest, and debased to crumble into dust. We especially pray that you would bring peace, order, and health to Ukraine, and to the numerous other countries smoldering under the wreckage of war or internal conflict.

You who shall judge between the nations and shall decide disputes for many peoples; who will one day bring the nations to beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks so that nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore (Isaiah 2:4); to you we pray for our own country and the elected and appointed officials. We implore you to help us; restore peace where there has been animosity; civility where there has been coarseness; and justice where there has been unfairness. Aid this State in our economic affairs; amend our priorities; bolster our education; and continue to supply us with all of the rains and showers we need.

Mighty God, who upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down; who gives food in due season, who opens your hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:14-16); we pray for the sick (…), the worried (…), the distressed (…), and the heartbroken (…). Raise them up and uphold them. 

All of this we ask with the assurances you have given us in Christ Jesus. And we pray as we have been taught, saying, Our Father…