"Be Merciful to Me, O God, Be Merciful to Me" - 11 December 2022

 

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me” (Psalm 57:1-2). We look around our big world and see trouble on the righthand and turmoil on the left. We implore you, O God, for all the nations of the world, especially the USA, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, and Somalia. Bring peace in our time, preserve the downtrodden and demoralized, raise up leaders who will seek good, and not evil, that life may flourish, leaders who will hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; and who will let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (from Amos 5:14-15, 24).

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” Lord, preserve, prosper, promote and pilot your Church, our brothers and sisters in all places, to include this congregation, as well as Highland Baptist churches, Hopewell, Howard Memorial, and Immanuel Baptist Church. Raise up and rebuild the tent of David that is fallen and repair its breaches and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the nations who are called by your name (taken from Amos 9:11-12 and Acts 15:16-18).

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” We look around our families, neighborhoods, friends and colleagues, especially those undergoing trials and tribulations (…). Let them know that you are God who lifts up the humble; who restores the fainthearted; who heals the wounded. But also, we pray that you will show yourself as the one who stands up for the weak and vulnerable and hunts down the abuser, condemns the violator, and resists the proud. 

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” We look at all of these children in our midst with warm hearts. Lord Jesus, you said very pointedly “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God (Mark 10:14-16). Take these children in your arms, and may we, adults and parents, be purposefully bringing them to you, endeavoring to set before them a godly example, praying with and for them, teaching them the doctrines of our holy religion, and striving, by all of your appointed means, to bring them up in your nurture and admonition. And now, we join together to pray as Jesus taught, saying, Our Father…

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