Prayers of the People from January 24

The transcript from the prayer I offered yesterday at the 11 a.m. service (a few people asked to look at it). I think I'm going to keep praying it throughout the week.

Mighty God,

We come before you today humbled by your awesomeness.

You laid the foundations of the earth, marked its dimensions while the morning stars sang together, and all the angels shouted for joy.

You shut the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, made the clouds its garment, brought the proud waves to a halt.

Indeed, Mighty God, you are in control of all creation.

We recognize this even in light of recent happenings in Haiti.

Though we don’t understand this pain and destruction, you have shown that are in control.

And it is our prayer that you are working even the devastation now upon Haiti into good.

We know the pain in Haiti breaks your heart, and it breaks our hearts now.

You have told us to rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character, hope; and hope does not disappoint us, because you have poured out your love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

This is the prayer we pray for our Haitian brothers and sisters,

That they would find a way to rejoice in their suffering,

And you would turn that joy into hope.

And indeed, for all those here in the congregation, in our city, our nation, and our world, who today are suffering, that through your amazing love, suffering would yield hope.

We pray for Haitian leadership, that you would raise up the righteous to bring restoration and reconciliation to Haiti.

We recognize in our own lives the times that you have broken us down, only to make us new creations. We pray for those among us today who feel broken down… who are facing deep fear… who are know at rock bottom…

That you will fill them again with life, hope, and peace.

We pray, Mighty God, that you would fill us with a fearless spirit to face our own suffering with joy.

And we pray that this joy would spread, multiply, and bring joy to the lives of the people we interact with, even today.

Jesus, you told us that nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, that there will be earthquakes in various places, and famines—but that these are the beginning of birth pains,

Birth pains signifying that a time is coming when men will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

And for this, we join with creation groaning for your return, for your kingdom here on earth, when all things will be reconciled and put right.

We thank you, Mighty God, for becoming a humble servant and offering your own life for our eternal salvation, that we may see the day when you do reign in great power and glory.

We pray this in the mighty and healing name of Jesus Christ…