Author Archive: Craig

Heavenly Father, We praise you the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. You have never abandoned your Creation. You have set your plans and purposes in place from the beginning. You have persisted in the revelation of your glory. You are the origin of all life, all truth, and all love. Thank you for the grace that has brought us into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Thank you for revealing your life and love in Jesus Christ your Son. 

He is before us and so we praise you.
He is after us and so we aim our lives at Him. We know every knee shall bow and every tongue confess
that He is Lord to your glory forever and ever.

You are also present with us: Our good shepherd, the lover of our souls, the author and perfecter of our faith, and the God who saves us.

You are with us in our tears. We have lost the illusion of invincibility.
You are with us in our fears. We have lost the thin promises of our self-designed security.

We cry Hosanna; Lord help!

Grant your church courage today to move with you into the suffering of the world with compassion. Grant us the will to change how we relate to the planet, to our families, to our neighbours, and to our coworkers. 

We lift up to you the people of Shanghai and other cities across China suffering through pandemic lockdowns. Oh Lord comfort them and meet them. We ask you Lord for an end to the ravages of this virus.

We lift up to you the peoples of Ukraine and Russia suffering under the violent will of one set on dominating and destroying another. Lord may your hand bring an end to this war. Lord may your Spirit minister to those who have lost so much. Lord may your church move in the way of Jesus so your light shines.

 Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one;

for yours is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory, 

forever. 

Amen.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the grace that has brought us into your Communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ our Lord laid down His life that He might be lifted up for all to see on the Cross for your salvation. His death confounded the powers and authorities and you triumphed over death in His resurrection. You have delivered us from the evil one and have settled the debt of our rebellion.

Now by this gift of faith we are buried with Jesus in baptism and you have raised us into glorious life with Him!

Praise the Lord!

You have forgiven us our sins and free us from the tyranny of shame.

Praise the Lord!

For a time we do not yet see all things under your feet. Yet, we desire that your Spirit would continue to transform our hearts. May our feet and our hands move in accordance with your love. May our voices speak winsomely and boldly of Jesus who fills our hearts.

Oh Lord, teach us your ways. How our hearts are drawn to envy those with more of whatever the lusts of our eyes desire. How easily we are deceived to neglect the weightier matters and  to let our hearts grow cold and hard.

We lift up to you the people of Ukraine and Russia suffering so terribly under the will of those who are set on destruction. Comfort them Lord and bring peace. Empower your church to serve and welcome people in your name with refreshment and with healing.

We lift up to you the people of Shanghai suffering through a pandemic lockdown. Minister to them and meet them in this season of restriction. Across the globe people need healing and an end to the pandemic. We ask for the people of this city that you would reveal the beauty and glory of Jesus to many and call them into the fellowship of your church.P

For ourselves Lord we pray that you would awaken us from dullness and apathy. Help us keep in pace with you. Conform our hearts to yours. Revive us Lord! Revive us — we open our hearts to you and say Come Lord Jesus.

(Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.)

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, 
forever.
Amen.

Heavenly Father, 

We rejoice in you. You have caused the morning sun to rise on us. You have brought us into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You have illuminated our lives and encouraged our timid hearts to release the prideful grip we had on false hopes.

Our hope is in you.

You are the satisfaction of our souls. You are the peace for every generation. You are the power that restores the land. 

Now set before us the path we are to take and order our steps according to your purposes. How shall we meet you in the ordinary moments of each day?

Open our eyes that gratitude may flow from our tongues.
Open our ears that obedience may flow from our hands.

Embraced by you we venture into spaces where the shadow of death seems to be ahead of us.  Whether it be in the lab or the classroom, the forest or the cathedral, the office or the caffe — we find ourselves asking, “How long Lord?” Unless your Spirit empowers us Lord we have nothing. Unless your love motivates us we are a sounding gong. Fill us with your love.

We lift up to you the people of Ukraine and Russia. Oh Lord would you stop this madness!? Fortify the hearts of those who are extending refuge and care to people fleeing violence and oppression. We ask for peace and pray that you would multiply the peace makers in this conflict but also for those who oversee borders drawn between Israel and Palestine, and Ethiopia and Tigray.

Lord may your kingdom come.

Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one;

for yours is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory, forever. 

Amen.

Heavenly Father,

You have been our help – an anchor through storms wrecking our souls. Thank you for calming the storm. Thank you for carrying us through the storm. And even when the storm was of our own making you have restored our souls and given us rest. 

When shame weighed us down you have lifted us up. You put a new song in our hearts and raised our chins from the depths. You invite us to gaze on your glory and goodness. 

Who is like you?

You took our place at the Cross through Jesus Christ and have graciously poured your Spirit into us so we may enjoy life with you now and forever. This new birth delivers us from the destruction wrought by Satan, from guilt, from shame, and from fear. Now you usher us into the  peace, righteousness and joy of your Kingdom.

Thank you.

Lord you have empowered us to be neighbours to those who need one. We turn our faces with you to consider our campus, our city, and the countries of our day — give us your heart for people.

Raise up students who love you and grant them courage and wisdom to speak up with you.
Raise up men and women who will lead with loving kindness in their fields of work.
Raise us up as a generation that will follow Jesus.

Even here — we know —  powers and principalities prop themselves up against the knowledge of You. They seek to destroy people by denying their dignity and their worth as bearers of your image. 

Today as we look at our world with you: 
We lift up the Wei-ghurs in NorthWest China; 
We lift up to you the many people displaced by violence in Ukraine.
We lift up to you the troubles our brothers & sisters in Nigeria have been facing. 
Oh Lord, Come quickly — please orchestrate release for the captives, homes for the displaced, and enduring peace for neighbours.

Please give our leaders humility and the wisdom that comes from Heaven.

We pray today as Jesus taught us — ( Join me in the Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.