O God, as we enter this season of thinking about your coming, both your first and your last, we pray Come Jesus Come. One day righteousness will be established all over the earth, but today there is terror, and those that would try and bring us panic for their benefit. Holy Spirit, keep us calm, may Christians ever be firm upon the rock as we face the different struggles and news items of each day, and through that, may others wonder how we can face the world with such confidence, and with such a lack of worry.
We come up to you today and ask that you bring peace to our hearts in all things.
Because you sent your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in him of everlasting life; that when he shall come again in power and great glory to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing.
Especially we ask that as you grow our next generation, you would lead may of them into the ways of godliness. You love the little children, and so do we, and as our own children grow, would you draw them to deeper and deeper faith. As our children go into schools and into life would you use them to bless our cities and towns and neighborhoods and our nation. Would you use your church and use campus ministries to draw many of the next generation to faith. We pray especially for RUFs in Okahoma, for Scott Morris at OU, Shane Hatfield at OSU, and Caleb Harlin at the University of Tulsa. Use them to reach students for Christ and equip them to serve the world and the church for your glory.
We pray for Lee and Pam Nichols as they begin travels doing ministry. As they go to serve your church in underserved places, to build things to serve, may they always do so with a heart of joy and gladness in the gospel. May serving you never become more of a burden than the burden of thankfulness for what you have done for them in Jesus Christ.
We pray for the conversations that were had this last week over family dinner tables and amongst friends. May those who do not you be intrigued by Christians celebrating. We have so much to celebrate, and we ask that as we practice feasting with others, we would also bear witness to our reason for such great joy.
For others who are hopeless, because they were alone, they had no meal, they have no family, they wonder if anyone loves them, would you deliver them from despair. Lord, there are people who to us are nameless, but you know them all. Be near to the brokenhearted and depressed as we enter this advent season. We pray especially for your mercy during the holidays, when suicide rates go up, and we ask that you give encouragement to the discouraged, deliver those that would consider harming themselves through good friends, through moving them to reach out for help, and ultimately, through the gospel, show them that there is eternal salvation, that makes living this life right now worth it, and a joy.
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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