O Lord, Who Knows... - 11 October 2026

 

O Lord, who knows the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, we pray for the besieged and beleaguered peoples in our world, suffering from floods, droughts, hurricanes, unemployment, military threats, fears and pestilence. Please establish peace, justice, recovery and efficient economies in all lands, for the good of all, so that the Gospel of Jesus may spread unchecked, and that your Church may dwell securely in peace and quietness. Guide our own leaders in this country to throw off selfish programs, cut-throat tactics, and dastardly devices; and to put on what is truly legitimate and will promote evenhanded integrity.

Give ear to our concerns as we pray for those who are in unbelief and for those who have deserted the Christian Faith (…). May they turn around and believe in your Son Jesus Christ and have everlasting life. And we pray for our enemies, some Islamic, others Marxist, a few rabid Secularists, and more. Oh Lord, lead them and us from prejudice to truth; and deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty and revenge to faith, hope and love; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you through Jesus Christ your Son.

For your Church in all places, this congregation, St. Paul’s UMC, St. Stephen’s, Southern Hills, and Spencer UMC, we pray. Our desire is to see all who claim to be your people would be holy, whole and health-giving in Jesus Christ. Those who have allowed their desires and ambitions to squeeze out brotherly love and create fights and wars, reinstate them in the cross-shaped ways of Christ. Those who have perverted the grace of God into sensuality and have compromised fidelity to Jesus for social acceptance and a growing fanbase, grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth that they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. Those who are towing the line and promoting decent doctrine and genuine godliness, encourage them by giving grace to the humble as you withstand the proud. And those who are standing firm against the pressures and persecutions of the world, strengthen them that in life and in death they may remain faithful witnesses. And also, look upon the many seminaries in our land that educate and form leaders for your church, especially the various campuses of Reformed Theological Seminary, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and Covenant Seminary. May they have the instructors, administrators and money they need to function well. May each campus be an environment of thoughtfulness, decorum and genuine godliness.

LORD, since your eye is on those who fear you, on those who hope in your steadfast love, that you may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine, we intercede on behalf of those with cancer, MS, diabetes, Crohn’s, dementia, and other ailments (…). Lift their hearts, grow them in a godly defiance against hopelessness and hollow despair, and bring them lasting relief. 

And now we pray in the power of the Spirit and the name of Jesus as he taught us, saying, Our Father…

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