Category: Prayers

By Peter Leithart

Father, You are light, and You dwell in the unapproachable, eternal light of Your Son and Spirit.  In You is no darkness or shifting shadow.

On the first day, You made light shine in the midst of darkness, and at the last Day You will dispel all darkness and shine as the light of Your people unto ages of ages.

When Jacob was oppressed by his kinsman Laban, you brought him out from the darkness of night and led him to the land.

When Israel suffered in slavery, You sent Your angel to judge Egypt and lead Your people through the wilderness in a pillar of fire.

When Haman sought to destroy the Jews, You made him stumble in darkness and fall into the pit he dug, and raised Esther as a light to your people.

And when your people were sitting in darkness, You brought a great light; upon those who sat in the shadow of death, upon them a light dawned, the light of Jesus, who is the light to the Gentiles.

You sent light into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  You sent light into the world, and the darkness could not overcome it.

Because you are light, even the night shall be light about us.  The darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day.  Darkness and the light are both alike to You.

Shine Your light on us, as we gather in the light of Your Spirit to rejoice in the coming of Incarnate Light.

We pray in the Name of Jesus, the light of the world, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, ever one God, unto ages of ages.

Amen.

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Prayer:

Most merciful Father, we remember on this day your faithfulness to us and to a thousand generations. We remember the rich, biblical heritage of this country. We remember the Mayflower Compact, which included these words: “Having undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith . . . a voyage to plant the First Colony . . . [we] solemnly . . . in the presence of God and of one another, Covenant . . . ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic. . . ” We remember that you are the God who delights in giving gifts to your children; You are the God who prepares for us a table in the presence of our enemies; You are the God who rights evil and overturns wicked empires. We rather place our trust in You than in all the military might of this world. Receive our humble thanksgiving. We pray, our Father, that you would make us a people filled with gratitude for your love and abundant grace, for Jesus Christ and his victory over death, for the Holy Spirit and his abiding presence within us, for the kingdom of God and your church who shall ever prevail against the gates of hell.

We pray that your tender mercies will always be with us that we may never forget the goodness of your Hands for us. May we feast in this delicious meal knowing that we have first tasted of your Sovereign care. We have seen that You are good to us and so now bless this meal and this communion.

We give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Most Merciful God, these tragedies remind us that we live in a fallen world. But this fallen world is bound to Your Sovereign will. Even in these times of deep chaos, You are the God of comfort. Sustain the brothers and sisters in Christ who have suffered the devastation of these tornadoes, and bring them the consolation of a merciful Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

With Governor Perry’s call for prayer in Texas, I am reminded of Calvin’s observations in Psalm 148:

…however parched the earth may be by long continued heat, God can promptly send rain which will remove the drought at his pleasure.

It appears that God has finally brought some rain to Texas, as this reports shows. Yet, I hope Christians in Texas and elsewhere do not cease to pray for more rain.

A Prayer for Texas:

Most merciful God, the Psalmist declares that everything serves Your purposes on earth. Water the land of Texas; give relief to those suffering under this drought, and show them Your great power, so that all the ends of the earth may cry aloud Halleluiah! through Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord. Amen.

God of all mercy,
we confess that we have sinned against you,
opposing your will in our lives.
We have denied your goodness in each other,
in ourselves, and in the world you have created.
We repent of the evil that enslaves us,
the evil we have done,
and the evil done on our behalf.
Forgive, restore, and strengthen us
through our Savior Jesus Christ,
that we may abide in your love
and serve only your will. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit .

{Daily Office}

The reproach:

My people, What have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!
I led you out of Egypt; but you led your Savior to the Cross.
For forty years I led you safely through the desert,
I fed you with manna from heaven,
and brought you to the land of plenty; But you led your Savior to the Cross.
O, My people! What have I done to you that you should testify against me?

Holy God. Holy God. Holy Mighty One. Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.