O LORD, the Creator Who Has Spoken - 13 August 2023
O LORD, who created the
heavens (you are God!), who formed the earth and made it (you established it;
you did not create it empty, you formed it to be inhabited!), you have spoken
and said: “I am the LORD, and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in
a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’
I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right” (Isaiah 45:18-19). It is
to you we come to seek your face and call for help.
We pray for your church world
over, including this congregation, Grace Covenant Church, St. Benedict
Orthodox, St. Elijah’s, and St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church. May we all be
united together by your Holy Spirit, in your true Truth, centered on your
Gospel, reformed around grace alone, in Christ alone, by faith alone. We
additionally pray for all of the congregations in our Hills and Plains
Presbytery that you would guide us in truly and humbly serving you in order
that your name may be glorified before all people.
Give wise discernment and
discretion to those who are making career decisions; those who are trying to
map out their vocational directions; and others who are just beginning the path
of higher education and trying to figure out what majors they will be best fit
for.
Take notice, O God, of the nations
of the earth, together with Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan and Tajikistan. May
those who govern and hold authority look out for all of their people – even
those whom they consider to be of the wrong clans and tribes – protecting and
preserving their safety, securing their rights, and supporting their welfare.
May justice and peace run throughout the whole earth.
O God, the fountain of
wisdom, whose will is good and gracious, and whose law is truth: We beseech you
to guide and bless our Senators and Representatives in Congress and the
Legislature of this State so that they may enact such laws – and only such laws
– as shall please you, to the glory of your Name, for the welfare of this
people, and to the peace and safety of your church.
Look after those who are
indisputably poor, economically crushed, or educationally hobbled. And we pray
for the families of the dead, and those who have lost everything in the fires
on Maui. Present them with the ways and means to provide for their daily bread,
to rebuild and recover. Console the grieving, and restore the wrecked.
We thank you, Lord, for the rains of this past week, and the comfortable temperatures. We thank you for the pleasure of friends and laughter. We thank you for the days our health holds out. We thank you for your many kindnesses to our families. We ask you to have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble (…). May they be delivered from their distress, be surrounded by caring family and helpful friends, and be drawn closer to you.
Hear us as we pray for folks we know who are not Christians or have slipped away (…). Save them by your merciful goodness, draw them into your church, and surround them with loving, gracious people. And now we join together to pray as our Lord Jesus directed, Our Father, who art in heaven…
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