During our worship Sunday morning, January 19, 2020, Pastor Berdj’s congregational prayer emphasized God’s loving, sovereign care: in making himself known, in calling to salvation and caring for his Church as a whole, and in his particular care for his individual children. We also agreed in prayer that our wise and powerful God is sovereign over the happenings in our nation, from the decisions made by our leaders, to his providential hand guiding our military, police, and first-responders.
Oh, there is such comfort knowing that:
Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases! — Psalm 115:3
O God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee, that you would make your ways known unto all men: revealing your way of salvation unto the nations, calling your people unto yourself.
We pray for your universal Church. Continue washing and protecting your Bride from sin and all sorts of harm; utilizing your people to reflect your glory. Sanctify your Church to reflect your character. May your Church be guided by the Holy Spirit, and not governed by the spirit of the age. May she make decisions based upon your Holy Bible and not from fear of reprisal from the world. Give courage, boldness, and winsomeness to your people to stand up for your ways and your truth.
We pray, Father, for our nation, for the leaders who make decisions that affect our lives. We pray that your hand would continue to allow your Bride to freely assemble and worship in this land, and that she would speak boldly into the lives of our elected officials. We pray for our military, police officers, and all first responders. We pray that you would cause your Spirit to descend upon them and protect them when in harm’s way. We pray that the decisions they make are founded not upon iniquity, but righteousness.
Finally, Father, we commend to thy Fatherly goodness all those who are afflicted; distressed in mind, body, or spirit; and especially for those prayers that were signified just moments ago at your feet.
We pray specifically this Lord’s Day for A__ B__’s and D__ H__’s Families, as they have lost father and grandfather just this last week. Comfort them in their time of affliction, sorrow, and loss. May you use your people—their church family—to minister to them in their time of need, that they may know that they are loved and are not alone.
We also lift up to you our brother F__ S__ and his wife E__. We pray that you would bring healing into his body as he continues to struggle with back issues. We pray for E__, as she cares for her husband, to have stamina, patience, and energy.
We pray for our widows and widowers: comfort them in their times of pain and loneliness. Remind them of your watch-care for their lives, and in times of doubt reassure then of your unending love.
And we close our prayer this morning with the prayer that the Lord taught his people:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts; as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Grateful 