A Prayer of and for Joy: The Joy of the Lord is our strength
PSALM 126—OUR TEXT FOR THIS MORNING—MENTIONS JOY 4 TIMES. IN FACT, THERE ARE 242 INSTANCES OF THE WORD JOY IN SCRIPTURE…SO, TODAY’S PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE IS MODELED AFTER SCRIPTURES WHERE WE ARE REMINDED OF JOY…IN THE MIDST OF THE UPS AND DOWNS OF OUR EVERYDAY LIVES…** LET’S COME BEFORE THE LORD IN PRAYER.
LORD—OUR SOURCE OF JOY— AS YOUR PEOPLE HAVE DONE FOR MILLENNIA, WE COME BEFORE YOU REJOICING IN YOUR PRESENCE. WE OFFER OUR JOYFUL SONGS AND THE SOUNDS OF OUR INSTRUMENTS TO YOU TODAY…WE DANCE IN HONOR OF YOUR GREATNESS. YOUR WORD REMINDS US THAT “SPLENDOR AND MAJESTY ARE BEFORE [YOU]; STRENGTH AND JOY ARE IN [YOUR] DWELLING PLACE.
WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOUR ABUNDANT GOODNESS TO US THIS WEEK—IN OUR WORK, IN OUR REST, IN OUR MINISTRIES AND OUR VACATIONS. WE ARE GLAD IN HEART FOR YOUR CONSISTENT PROVISION. WE PRAY FOR THOSE FOR WHOM SCARCITY HAS REPLACED PLENTY—LORD, PROVIDE FROM YOUR ABUNDANT STOREHOUSES…AND GUIDE YOUR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE INTO DEEPER AND MORE WILLING GENEROSITY SO THAT OTHERS’ NEEDS ARE MET.
AS IN THE TIME OF NEHEMIAH, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DAY AS HOLY TO YOU. EVEN IN THE PLACES WHERE WE GRIEVE AND MOURN, WE SAY ALOUD—THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH. IN OUR TORN AND BROKEN WORLD, WE ASK THAT YOU TURN SORROW INTO JOY AND TRANSFORM DAYS OF MOURNING INTO DAYS OF CELEBRATION. WHEN ANXIETY IS GREAT, MAY YOUR CONSOLATION BRING JOY. BE A SHIELD AND HELP TO THOSE WHO SUFFER. TURN WASTELANDS INTO GARDENS AS ONLY YOU CAN DO. YOU RULE THE PEOPLES WITH EQUITY AND GUIDE THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH—WE LEAN INTO THAT PROMISE OF YOUR SOVEREIGNTY WHEN WE HAVE LIMITED SIGHT AND FAITH.
AS WE HEAR YOUR WORD READ AND SUNG AND PREACHED TODAY, WE CELEBRATE WITH GREAT JOY BECAUSE YOU BRING UNDERSTANDING TO US THROUGH THESE THINGS. MAY WE EXPERIENCE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS AS RADIANT, GIVING LIGHT TO OUR EYES.
WE PRAY THAT THE JOY YOU GIVE US WILL BE EVIDENT TO THOSE WHO DON’T YET KNOW AND FOLLOW YOU. RESTORE TO US THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION AND GRANT US A WILLING SPIRIT, TO SUSTAIN US. SATISFY US IN THE MORNING WITH YOUR UNFAILING LOVE, THAT WE MAY SING FOR JOY AND BE GLAD ALL OUR DAYS. HELP US TO BE JOYFUL IN HOPE, PATIENT IN AFFLICTION, FAITHFUL IN PRAYER. FILL US WITH THE FRUIT OF YOUR SPIRIT AND GRANT US YOUR EVERLASTING JOY.**
LORD, WE END THIS TIME WITH THE PRAYER GIVEN TO US BY THE ONE WHO CAME TO BRING GREAT JOY FOR ALL PEOPLE:
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.
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**References used for the Prayer of and for Joy: The Joy of the Lord is our strength:
Leviticus 9:24
Deuteronomy 16:15
1 Samuel 18:6
1 Kings 8:66
1 Chronicles 12:40
1 Chronicles 15:16
1 Chronicles 16:27
1 Chronicles 16:33
1 Chronicles 29:17
1 Chronicles 29:22
2 Chronicles 20:27
Nehemiah 8:10
Nehemiah 8:12
Nehemiah 12:43
Esther 8:16
Esther 9:22
Psalm 5:11
Psalm 16:11
Psalm 19:8
Psalm 28:7
Psalm 30:11
Psalm 33:1
Psalm 33:3
Psalm 45:7
Psalm 47:1
Psalm 47:5
Psalm 51:12
Psalm 65:8
Psalm 66:1
Psalm 66
Psalm 67:4
Psalm 90:14
Psalm 92:4
Psalm 94:19
Psalm 96:12
Psalm 98:6
Psalm 98:8
Psalm 126:2
Psalm 126:3
Psalm 126:5
Psalm 100:1
Psalm 100:2
Psalm 145:7
Isaiah 35:1
Isaiah 35:1
Isaiah 35:10
Isaiah 44:23
Isaiah 49:13
Isaiah 51:3
Isaiah 51:11
Isaiah 52:9
Isaiah 55:12
Isaiah 61:3
Isaiah 61:7
Jeremiah 15:16
Jeremiah 31:12
Habakkuk 3:18
Matthew 28:8
Luke 2:10
John 15:11
John 16:16
John 16:20
John 16:22
John 17:13
Romans 12:12
Galatians 5:22
Shirley Giles Davis, author of 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.
Photo © Shirley Giles Davis.
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