Trinity XVII General Prayer

Gracious heavenly Father, as we Your servants come to You in prayer, deal with us according to Your steadfast love and hear our pleas for mercy:

Empower us by Your Holy Spirit so that we would walk in your ways and live lives that are blameless in Your sight.  Lead us to an ever deeper knowledge of Your will, fix our eyes on Your commandments, and help us to love You with our whole heart. 

Strengthen and sustain all of those who are persecuted and imprisoned for their faith in Jesus Christ and grant their oppressors repentance unto life. 

We give You thanks that the Spirit has called us into fellowship with You and one another in the Church, forgiving our sins by Jesus.  Make us eager to do our part in maintaining Christian unity, overlooking the faults of others and living lives of gentleness and peace.  End all sinful divisions in the church and grant us unity based on Your Word.

As Your Son Jesus Christ healed those who were ill, continue to grant healing according to Your wise fatherly will, especially for J.A. and Blake and Barbara.  Protect all pregnant women and grant them safe deliveries and healthy children.  Comfort those who mourn with the resurrection promise of Your Son Jesus Christ, that because he lives we also shall live.  Especially do we pray for Erna’s family as they mourn her passing.  

You promise us that blessed is the nation who has You as their God.  Grant that it would be so in our own nation.  Lead us to repent of our national sins that destroy life and undermine Your gifts of marriage and family.  Empower the witness of the church so that our fellow citizens would come to faith, especially do we ask Your blessing upon missionary efforts among native Americans.  Bless our leaders, protect our military member, and enlighten our fellow citizens to elect leaders who will walk in Your ways and do what is right in Your sight.

We confess and believe that You are the Maker of heaven and earth and have called them into being by the power of Your Word.  We thank You for all of the blessings and tender mercies that You have bestowed upon us, especially for the gift of rain.  Help us to be faithful stewards of Your good gifts, putting You first in our financial lives.

Whatever else You see that we need, whatever serves our neighbor and brings glory to You, grant to us dear Father in heaven for the sake of Your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.