"Who Is Like You, O LORD?" - 10 December 2023

 

Moses sang, “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11) and so we draw near to you through Jesus Christ your Son and our Lord, with a true heart in the full assurance of faith.

O faithful Lord, we pray for your Church in all nations, for this congregation and for Asbury UMC, Bethel, Broadway, and Chapel Hill UMC. Lead and guide your people in sound doctrine, establish the preeminence of the Gospel of Jesus, strengthen and fortify your little lambs in utmost loyalty, grant repentance, and supply all our needs richly in Christ Jesus, so that we may learn to devote ourselves to good works to help in cases of urgent need and not be unfruitful (Titus 3:14).

God of steadfast love, please call and convert those who have never submitted to your Son, and please collect those who have “wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:10).

We implore you, merciful Father, to look compassionately on the sick and sorrowful, beleaguered and besieged, heartbroken and harried (…). We ask you to restore and bless them body and soul in Jesus Christ and grant them to have joy in you.

O LORD, you who are a man of war (Exodus 15:3), we beseech you on behalf of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. Grant them your strengthening presence to guide them, protect them and keep them strong in their duty; and for any who have been in combat and are riddled with horrible memories, fierce dreams, shame-filled regrets and intense anger; bring them the sustaining, health-restoring aid they need and grant them your unshakeable peace.

God, mighty over the nations, we ask for the countries of the world that you would please turn the violence, saber-rattling, and tyranny on its head. Direct the leaders, along with the citizens of each country, toward greater and greater justice, peace, and civility that all the peoples of the nations may flourish in health and hope, your Church would be safe from harm, and your Gospel make unhindered progress.

God of our fathers, look on and guide these United States of America, our leaders – including our judges – our citizens, and all residents from sea to shining sea. Preserve us from all enemies and from all falsehood; move us to a more substantial moral integrity; restrain us from accepting and indulging ungodly, destructive lifestyles, habits and addictions; and arouse us to become exporters of goodness and virtue rather than vice and villainy. 

All we ask here, Lord, we ask in faith and in the name of Jesus Christ your Son and our Lord. And now we join hearts and voices together to pray as he taught us, saying, Our Father…

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