"Your Name, O LORD, Endures Forever" - 3 April 2022

 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages. For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses (Psalm 135:13, 5-7). We rejoice in your might and goodness and ask you to attend to our prayers as we seek your face and intercede on behalf of your Church and world.

We lift up our hands, hearts and heads to you, Mighty God, for hearing and answering our prayers for restored health, for rain, and for sustaining us day-in-and-day-out. And we thank you for these gifts (…). Glory to you, Mighty Lord! Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.

We pray for this congregation, these OKC are churches: Greater New Zion Baptist Church, Greater Bethel Baptist, Greater Fellowship Baptist, and Higher Ground Baptist; and for your Church all around the globe. As a Master Gardner skillfully weeds, waters, and works his garden to make it healthy, lush, and bountiful; do so with your Church that all may know it is “God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.

We pray for the leaders of our counties, cities, states, and nation. Show them better ways to govern and give them hearts and minds to govern better. Safeguard them from evil and enlarge in them ways and means for safeguarding those under their care. Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.

We pray for the nations of our world, our own country, as well as eastern Europe, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Mexico, Mali, and North and South Korea. May we be led rightly in the ways of justice and peace, showing respect for one another, and serving the common good. Preserve all lands from ruffians, saboteurs and assassins who come under the façade of white flags or under the guise of refugees. Preserve all nations from global bullies and brigands who unjustly seek to flex their muscle so as to bludgeon other nations into submission. Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.

We pray for friends, family members, and foes to hear and heed Jesus “proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel”” (Mark 1:14-15). Hear us as we intercede from some heavy on our hearts (…). Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.

We pray for friends, family members and foes afflicted with emotional troubles, financial predicaments, marital breakdowns, family distresses, vocational crises, physical sufferings, bodily weaknesses, and others (…). May they know your comfort, be restored, and rise up with a new lease on life joyfully praising you now and ever. Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.

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…