O God, Blessed Trinity,
I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one…”
We thank you that in Christ, all your church is your chosen. We thank you that in Christ we can be before you as Son and Daughters, and we pray for the growth of your church. Here at Heritage, we continue to ask that even in the midst of pandemic, somehow, before this year is out, rather than decline, we would see 10 news families and 12 believer’s baptisms. We thank you that even in this we’ve had new visitors.
We pray that Bible believing, Jesus loving, gospel preaching churches all over Oklahoma and the world would see this sort of growth.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
In the midst of pandemic, turmoil also rages in our nation. Calls for justice go up. Where justice needs to be meeted out, you say the authorities are meant to be your servants: give authorities wisdom to bring justice and remove those agents and systems that would hinder justice. Where hearts celebrate and long for that which is evil, change hearts or bring them down. We thank you that even now there is movement where people are standing up and saying, We must no longer celebrate that which was wicked; there are people admitting that they did not realize that harm they did. That’s you at work.
Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,
who exult in your name all the day
and in your righteousness are exalted.
For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favor our horn is exalted.
We lift up to you today those suffering from terminal diseases and their families. Soon those in Christ will indeed walk in the light of your face. As they prepare for death would you draw those who don’t know you to faith in their final hours, that your name would one day be praised when we find out just how big your grace is; provide the dying comfort that, as terrible as death is, death is not the end; for the Christian, to be away from the body is to be with you, and you promise that one day you will raise them who trust in you up in glory, with new bodies that will never die again. Praise you, thank you. Hasten that resurrection, Lord. I especially raise up to you Teresa who’s cancer will be taking her any time now, and we lift others up to you now…
I pray for the families and mourners of those who have already died. To be separated by death is a terrible thing. I can only imagine it is all the more terrible for those who don’t actually have resurrection hope. Would you use people’s deaths, whether from COVID or otherwise, to draw people’s minds and hearts to consider the purpose of their life and face their own mortality, use pastors performing funerals to boldly and compassionately proclaim the gospel and, Holy Spirit, draw people to hope even in the tears. I pray for the family and friends of my friend Frank who I hope has joined you now, and thank you that it seems you truly did draw him to peace in these last couple of years. We lift others up to you…
Remember how short my time is!
For what vanity you have created all the children of man!
What man can live and never see death?
Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?
Only you, Lord.
O God, your never-failing providence sets in order all things both in heaven and on earth: Put away from us all hurtful things, and give us those things that are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Blessed be the LORD forever!
Amen and Amen.
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