Heavenly Father,
We plead with you Lord for changed hearts and enlightened minds. Our affections have been twisted and our ability to see has been darkened. We keep choosing sides on earth in order to stave off fear and to show ourselves as loyal friends, but truthfully our affections betray us. You know our idolatrous embrace is poison for the soul.
In your grace we would run the race you have marked out for us. So, we fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of your throne. Oh we see you who endured opposition from sinners like us. Grant us courage and wisdom to drop all that hinders our faithful allegiance and obedience to you.
Help us persist in faith, hope, and love. May our love for you and your church not grow cold. Cause our love for neighbours at home, at work, and at school to overflow into daily acts of kindness and extravagance. In these days Lord we need your love to cast out fear. Show us how to dismantle reflexive enmity and replace it with responsive generosity.
Forgive us Lord and fill us with your Holy Spirit.
Oh, that we would be like Jesus, the Shepherd of our Souls! So Heavenly Father, we seek you, and 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.
This prayer was part of the Origin Church Weekend Broadcast on 28 August 2020.