PRAYING THROUGH TRAGEDY, UNCERTAINTY, CONFLICT, OUTREACH, AND PROTECTION

DEAR LORD,

 

WE COME TO YOU WEIGHED DOWN WITH YESTERDAYS NEWS OF THE _________________ DISASTER.  PLEASE COMFORT THE FAMILIES, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND COLLEAGUES OF THOSE AFFECTED.  BE THEIR…AND OUR…STRENGTH AND PEACE.  AS THIS HITS VERY CLOSE TO HOME, MAY THE _________________________ COMMUNITY TURN THEIR HEARTS TO YOU FOR SOLACE IN THEIR SHOCK AND GRIEF.

 

IN TIMES THAT MAY SEEM INCREASINGLY UNCERTAIN—HELP US REMEMBER TO KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON YOU.  MAKE US THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE HAVE.  MAY WE STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN THAT CAN NOT BE DESTROYED.  MAY OTHERS KNOW BY OUR GRATITUDE AND GENEROSITY THAT WE ARE YOURS.

 

AS WE CONTINUE TO PREPARE OUR HEARTS TO HEAR YOU SPEAK TO US TODAY, WE ASK THAT YOU HELP US BEAR WITH EACH OTHER—THROUGH TIMES OF DIFFICULTY AND CONFLICT.  GIVE US THE DESIRE AND ABILITY TO FORGIVE, AS YOU HAVE SO RICHLY FORGIVEN US.  PREVENT ANY ROOT OF BITTERNESS FROM TAKING HOLD.  MAY WE BECOME PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOTHED WITH COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, AND LOVE.  MAY OTHERS KNOW BY HOW WE LIVE AND HOW WE LOVE THAT WE ARE YOURS.

 

THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO SERVE QUIETLY AND FAITHFULLY IN LOCAL PLACES OF GREAT NEED.  PLEASE RAISE UP MANY WILLING HANDS AND FEET TO HELP STAFF ESSENTIAL CARING MINISTRIES [INSERT NAMES OF MINISTRIES____________________________] IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS. WE THINK OF THOSE WE KNOW WHO ARE SACRIFICING THEIR TIME, COMFORT, AND RESOURCES TO SERVE YOU GLOBALLY.  BE THEIR PROTECTOR, THEIR GUIDE, THEIR STRENGTH, AND THEIR TEACHER.  HELP THEM TO SEE WITH YOUR EYES AND HEAR WITH YOUR EARS.  MAY THEIR MINISTRY IN _________________________ DRAW OTHERS TO YOU.

 

WE PRAY FOR OTHER CONGREGATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH US IN SERVING YOU.  GRANT THEM YOUR BLESSING AND FAVOR AS THEY SEEK TO BE OBEDIENT TO YOUR CALL.

 

WE ASK YOUR PROTECTION AND RESTORATION FOR MARRIAGES AND FAMILIES IN OUR MIDST.  IN A WORLD THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY ALL UNITY, MAKE US ABLE TO FULFILL OUR VOWS TO ONE ANOTHER…TO RESIST TEMPTATION…TO LOVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY…AND TO SEEK WISE COUNSEL.  ENABLE US ALL TO PARENT THE CHILDREN IN THIS CHURCH IN WAYS THAT HELP EACH OF THEM GROW TO COMMITMENT AND MATURITY IN CHRIST.

 

WE STAND IN AWE OF YOU…OF YOUR GREATNESS AS THE POWERFUL CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.  WE ARE AMAZED THAT YOU CARE FOR US INDIVIDUALLY, AND KNOW EACH OF US BY NAME.   WE JOIN TOGETHER TO PRAY THE PRAYER YOUR SON TAUGHT:

 

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. LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOREVER. AMEN.

Important resources:

 

 

Shirley Giles Davis, author of God's Affirmations For You: A Book of Encouragement—A 12-Week Devotional Practice, the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.

 

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Shirley Giles DavisPraying in tragedy, prayer in crisis, prayer in chaos, prayer through uncertainty, prayer for protection