"My Heart Exults In the LORD" - 20 October 2024

 

With Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1-10) we pray: “My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.” Thank you for your compassionate care over us, and for listening to our concerns. Thank you for lifting us up out of the miry clay and setting our feet on the Rock. Thank you for rescuing us from the one who had the power over death, and the fear of death. Our hearts do exult in you.    

“There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.” We pray to you, O Lord who knows our hearts, and who is in our homes. Heal the strained and stressed marriages; mend the fragmented and fractured families; and repair the brittle and bleak hearts that are troubled (…). Bring reconciliation where there has been hostility; repentance and forgiveness where there has been wrong; wholeness where there has been despair or darkness; and breed in us love stronger than death.

“The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.” We pray to you, O LORD who raises up those bowed and beaten down. Look upon our nation and the countries of this world. Guide the leaders toward promoting their people’s welfare and wellbeing more than their own power and prosperity. Look upon the nations slammed by pandemonium, shoved down by privation, or bludgeoned by war. Restore some sense of order and organization so that they may rebuild. Lord, even when they don’t know it, the nations are longing for the Prince of Peace to reign over them, with the unending increase of his government and peace. May they realize this and turn to him wholeheartedly.

“The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world.” We pray to you, O Lord who humbles the exalted and exalts the humbled; who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Look with steadfast love, on your people ailing, hurting, healing and amending (…). May they know you and see more clearly your hand on their condition. May those who are bowed down or fallen over be raised up and spend the remainder of their days glorifying and enjoying you in ways they have never experienced before. 

“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” We pray to you, O Lord who – according to your mercy – begets us again to a living hope through the resurrection of your Son from the dead. Strengthen, correct and lead your Church, this congregation, and Oklahoma Community Church, Oklahoma Korean Presbyterian, Our Lord’s Lutheran, and Overcomers Church. Reclaim the wayward; regenerate those dead in their trespasses and sins; rebuke the obstinate and grant them repentance to life; refresh those desiccated by the parching effects of indwelling sin; and all for your love’s sake. And now we join together to pray as Jesus taught us, saying, Our Father…

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