General Prayer Pentecost 12C Proper 14

Lord God heavenly Father, because we hope in Your steadfast love, we come to You in prayer, asking in Jesus’ name for those things that we need:

We confess that You are the Creator of all that exists and that You continue to order the universe and provide for Your creatures, making the rain to fall and the grass to grow and giving the beasts their food.  Give to those in material need the things they need for this body and life:  food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, healing for the sick:  especially Anita and Charly and J.A. who need Your healing touch and Keaston as he recovers from surgery and Kathy as she faces surgery tomorrow.  We give You thanks for the wonderful tests results that Sylvia received last week.  We know that this blessing comes from Your mighty and loving hands.

As You promised Abram so grant to us that You would be our shield.  To that end bless all of those who serve as Your ministers for our good in the state.  Raise up godly leaders who will walk in Your ways; revive our fellow citizens’ trust in You; and protect our military personnel.

Because You count faith as righteousness in Your sight, work in us an ever deeper trust in Your Son Jesus Christ.  Help us to hear Your Word and receive the sacrament of the Altar in a way that our faith continues to grow and produce the fruit of good works.  Help us to live our life in so that You are never ashamed to be called our God.

We thank You for that great cloud of witnesses who have come before us whose lives show forth Your faithful love and care.  Let their example encourage us to follow You as strangers and exiles here on earth until we join them in the heavenly city You have prepared for us.  Comfort with the resurrection of Your Son those who mourn the death of loved ones, especially the McIntosh family and the Sholz family.

Lord we confess that we are often anxious, worried, and afraid.  Help us to acknowledge this lack of trust for the sin that it is and find forgiveness in the blood of Your Son Jesus.  Remind us that our life is much more than material things so that we would seek Your kingdom first and order our lives accordingly, supporting the work of the church and bearing witness to You in our daily calling.

We give You thanks and praise that you promise to hear and answer our prayers for the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ in whose name we pray.  Amen.