Sunday, June 22, 2014

General Prayer Pentecost 2a Proper 7



Gracious heavenly Father, You are our refuge and our fortress and we trust in You.  Hear us as we bring our prayers to You in Jesus’ name and help us by Your Spirit to pray for the things we ought and give voice to those which we cannot even name:

Watch over all who are persecuted for their faith in You and grant that they would find refuge in You.  Turn the hearts of their enemies and grant them repentance unto life.

Lord, You are a dread warrior who punishes evil and rewards good.  Upheld and guide all of those who serve as Your ministers for our good in the government.  Give them wisdom so that they would do what is right in Your sight and care for the weak and needy.  Protect our military men and women who serve in harm’s way.

Strengthen us with Your grace and the help of the Holy Spirit so that sin has no dominion over us.  Help us to use the members of our body as instruments of righteousness, serving our neighbor in their need.

We thank and praise You that You have set us free from sin and death by the perfect life and bloody sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  Since we live by Your grace, make us Your obedient children.

You have warned us that the wages of sin is death but You have also promised us that You give us eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Comfort all who mourn the death of loved ones with this good news, especially Caroline and her family as they mourn the death of Billy.  Assure them that he rests in Your presence.

Grant us the courage we need to always acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Prevent us from denying him by our words or deeds.  Help us as individuals and as a congregation to bear witness in our community and add to our fellowship those who are being saved.

We rejoice that Your knowledge of us is so great that even the hairs of our head are numbered and that You see our needs.  Grant us what we need for this body and life:  healing for those who are ill, hope for those who are discouraged, food and shelter for those who do not have the basics of life, and friends for the lonely.

We thank You for all Your good gifts.  Especially do we thank You this day for the gift of life that You have granted to Your servant Harley.  Bless her in body and soul all her days.

Lord, You are our dwelling place and refuge.  Keep far from us all evil and bring us at last to our heavenly home.  We ask it in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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