Our Father, Who Has Cheerfully Adopted Us..." - 26 February 2023

 

Our Father, who has cheerfully adopted us through Jesus Christ, we come and hand over our burdened hearts to you for this world and for your church.

We find that we are restless and uneasy about the things going on in our lives, amongst our friends and family, and in our world. War, catastrophe, sickness, sorrow, trouble at home, problems at work, uncertainty about the future. We remember these who are wrestling and wrangling with specific misfortunes, those in Syria, Turkey, and Kurdish held areas, as well as those in Ukraine, Transnistria, and Moldova, but also for these closer to home (…). Grant them and us courage, faith, graciousness, comfort and relief. 

We call upon you to take care of our country and all who are in authority. Promote our national well-being, defend us from malicious forces that would bring us into harm’s way, and cause us to utilize our liberties for the purpose of furthering justice and peace for the freeborn, the foreign born and the unborn. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer for rain. Please continue to supply all we need throughout the year.

Look upon our rural regions, farmers, cattle raisers, and others. We implore you that your graciousness would abound so that we may have abundant crops and food and resources. Thank you for all that has gone into feeding us well, clothing us nicely, and prospering us. May it continue – as long as it serves for your glory and our good.

We ask you to take note of the nations of our world, including Iraq, Ireland, Israel, and Italy, and even more pointedly, the places where there is conflict, slavery, brutality, anarchy, abortion, human trafficking and ferocious decadence. Bring justice and hope to reign in every land.

O Lord, we pray for your Church in all places, for this congregation, Draper Park Christian Church, First Christian, New Life, and Shepherd Street Christian Church. Keep us ever in your care, stirring up our hearts to serve you and to seek first your righteousness and your kingdom.

Finally, we plead for the salvation, transformation and rescue of those who have never believed in your Son and turned from their sins (…). We also pray for the restoration of those who have strayed away from you (…). 

All we ask in union with Jesus Christ your Son, and our Lord and Savior. And now we pray as Jesus taught us, saying, Our Father, who art in heaven…