Friday, July 1, 2011

Prayers of the Church, 7.3.11

We will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in our mouths. Our souls make their boasts in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Let us look to him and be radiant so our faces shall never be ashamed.

God of all, you have given us so much. You have given us dominion over the earth and sea. You have given us riches beyond our wildest imagination. You have given us your Word. You have offered us salvation through your son, Jesus. You have given us life and life everlasting.

And you have given us freedom, Lord. As human beings, we have the freedom to accept or reject you. As human beings, we have the freedom to lift up or crush. As human beings, we have the freedom to love or hate.

Help us to realize that as human beings, we are flawed. We are sinful. We are often selfish and self-serving. Left to our own devices we can be dangerous: dangerous to others, to ourselves, to our world, to the cause of the Christ. Help us not place the love of freedom over the love for you.

Liberate in us the freedom to loose our shackles from love of sinful things, love of indulgence, love of self. Draw us close to the freedom that is found as servants of the King. Help us revel in the joy that comes from lifting others up rather than tearing them down. Bless our enemies…and bless us, as we work to sort our differences.

When we are focused on you, we can become more in tune with your desires. At our best moments, we work to be Christ-like. Help our best moments be the moments we exhibit most.

We thank you for this great land and the opportunities it brings. Thank you for the generations that have worked so hard to make it a blessing to so many. Help us put our love for country in its proper place in our lives.

In the silence, hear our words of supplication. We are in fear. We are in pain. In the silence, hear our words of praise. We are grateful. We are humble.


You are our God and we are your children. Smile upon us, Father.

We ask intercessory prayer for Gabe and Melissa Hillman, missionaries in Bulgaria serving the nation’s youth. Guide, direct, and strengthen their efforts as they continue their mission. We ask special blessings on the family as Melissa seeks medical help in the US for their son, Jonah.

Now, we pray together as Christ Jesus taught us to pray:

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