Prayers of the Church, 10.25.09

We give thanks to you, O Lord with our whole hearts; we will tell of all your wonderful deeds. We will be glad and exult in you; we will sing praise to your name, O Most High. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. We sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion. We declare his deeds among the peoples.

Lord, we are your servants and we sometimes live confusing lives. Our goal is to live righteously, worthy of you and the sacrifice of the lamb, Jesus Christ. Yet we throw so many roadblocks in front of that goal. We like to collect riches, whether money itself, or the things that money can buy. We like the feeling that power, or wealth or stature or education gives us. We like the freedom to care about just ourselves. Then we turn our eyes to you and we like the comfort of being your children.

You call upon us to choose: choose the power of man or choose the power of God. Having both is not an option. You make it very clear to us and yet we try our best to juggle it all.

Set us free from worldly greed and avarice. Our intentions are mostly pure. Money and riches are not the root of all evil, but instead our inability to see them for what they are and how they should be used along with all of your other gifts.

Give us the vision to comprehend the weight and the promise of the gifts you have given to us. WE ARE SAVED. Help us understand the great power we possess, the resources you have placed in our charge. WE ARE FORGIVEN. Whether we are rich or poor by our society’s standards, let us see the great riches you have bestowed upon us. WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN. Give us the wisdom and the restraint and the love to use your riches in a way that glorifies you. PRAISE BE TO YOU, O GOD.

Allow us to view your world through the lens of the gospel. Give us the patience and the understanding to love our fellow humans like Jesus loves us. Allow us to respond to our world with liberality and generosity. Give us the courage and the grace to share the fullness of the Gospel to all who will hear.

Bless our enemies, Father.

We come to you in silence, thankful for your great love and beseeching your intervention in the challenges of our lives.


We ask your blessings on Milligan College, especially as they celebrate another homecoming of students from past years. Guide the professors as they share their knowledge. Support the administrators, as they work to keep Milligan functioning and flourishing. Bless the students as they take what they learn and the experiences they gather, to go forth in Christian service.

And now we pray together as Jesus, the son of God, taught us to pray: