Sunday Morning’s Prayer
Our Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the world that you have made.
Thank you for the changing seasons that routinely shout out as a witness of praise to your goodness. Fall follows summer, then winter and spring.
Each breath of wind you send over the world—balmy, icy, refreshing, or warming—reminds us of your lovingkindness toward us and all that you have made.
We pray for those in our congregation who are struggling and going through many challenges. We pray for those who have seen many leaves change colors, fall, and grow back again while walking through the same long season of discouragement, battles against sin, medical diagnoses, grief, and other difficulty.
Lord, we ask that you shine your face upon them, lighten their countenance, and lift up their hearts to see you attend to the sparrows of the air and flowers of the fields as a tender reminder that you care for them, and that we, as your creatures, made in your image, are much more valuable, and you have given us not only the clothing, food, and the warmth of the sun but your very own Son, who was born of a virgin, who is like us in every way yet without sin, who will redeem us body and soul to the uttermost.
In the light of your grace and mercy toward us, Lord Jesus, we now come to you with humility and in confession of our sins, both those sins that we have done and of those sins because of what we have left undone.
Thank you, O God, that in Christ every prayer is heard and every promise is answered with ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen.’
Give us hearts of childlike faith and patience in these prayers when they seem unanswered too long.
Help us to take heart, because soon we will see you face to face, no longer through a dim mirror. Remind us that now we are being transformed from one degree of glory to another.
O God, lift up our weak hands, wandering hearts, and downcast eyes. For you do not merely love us sometimes or even often. But in the Lord Jesus Christ you love us always, without measure, abounding in steadfast love, faithfulness, and mercy.
We pray all of these things, Father, in your Son Jesus Christ, and by the help of the Holy Spirit.