Heavenly Father,
Out of the depths we lift up our voice to you. It has taken a while for many of us to get here — to the heart of the matter: We need you. You are the only true God, the Creator of heaven and earth. The mountain peaks belong to you. The ocean depths belong to you. We are yours too and we long to live in your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is what we were made for.
To You, who have set the galaxies in motion, To you we call out in praise. May all glory be yours. Not to us, Lord; Not to us. But to you be all the glory. Thank you for the grace to recognize our true calling. Grant us courage for living into your purposes and grace. May we not let your words fall to ground. Instead let us treasure the gift you have given us.
We need help to love our neighbour. We need help to love each other. Revive your church Lord! May the overflow of our devotion to you be experienced in our city, in our campus, and in our homes through good deeds. May we never weary of doing good, for we trust that in due season there will be a harvest.
You see Lord. Nothing and no one escapes your view. But, we pause to lift up to you those who are being crushed. Bring hope, peace and a community of grace & truth to the Uighurs in NorthWest China, to the people seeking a place of refuge who are stuck in Lesvos, Greece, to the solitary man or woman caught in addiction in Vancouver, and to the person wrestling with anxiety by themselves.
Surely we can get below the surface of our “I’ve got it together vainness” to speak with you and each other of the matters weighing down on our souls. May your love wash over us. May your Spirit generate encouragement and refreshing service in our life together.
We pray urgently that your church might be revived! Revive us Lord. Salvation is in no other name, so it’s in Your name that we pray as Jesus taught us: (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.