Heavenly Father,
When we were in distress we called on you and you answered. You heard. You saw. and You delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of your Son. Thank you for gathering us from the depths of the pit and including us in your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Your mighty love is on display in the cradle, the cross, and the empty tomb, and even in your church. You lift us up!
May our worship be pleasing to you. Your Spirit makes possible what Jesus was seeking: the salvation of the lost and our transformation into true worshippers. We know you as our loving Father. Create in us a clean heart and help us maintain integrity from the inside out. Forgive us Lord for our sins and fill us with your Spirit.
We lift up to you friends and family who have lost loved ones during this pandemic. Comfort and help Oh Lord. We give thanks for the vaccines that are now being rolled out. We pray that you would help us persist in caring for our neighbours and in suspending our rights in order to love well. We pray that the nations with wealth would not abandon the poor but would willfully and generously make vaccines available. Only in this way will enter into the lessons provided by you through the pandemic. Help us Lord.
We lift up the pastors and ministers of churches and ministries in our Association. Encourage them and provide for them in this season. Fortify them with hope. Anoint them with your Spirit so that their life in you yields an abundance that brings glory to you.
Oh Lord Jesus may your Church flourish and shine like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.
(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.
This prayer was part of the Origin Church Weekend Broadcast on 18 December 2020.