Heavenly Father,
We exalt you. You have brought us out of the depths despair. We called to you for help and you helped us. You have made us alive with you through the death, burial, and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ. We praise you Lord! Thank you for delivering us from deceit and darkness into your Kingdom.
We sing praises to you even though we may have wept in the night. The morning brings promise of your New Day so we declare again, “Great is your faithfulness.” May the joy of your salvation be our strength.
How is it Lord that the wicked have profited from injustice? How is it Lord that even some who claimed your name acted so wickedly against the children precious in your sight? Our stomachs turn and our souls are uneasy as the terrible evidence that so many Indigenous children died at the Kamloops Residential School. Oh Lord may your Spirit comfort. Please bring healing to us all.
Our Father, may the wind of your Spirit pierce our hard hearts that we might shine with your righteousness. We repent of our envy and selfish ambition. Grant us the wisdom of Jesus that we may engage in the long and creative work of making peace. Change our hearts Lord and instruct our tongues that we may speak your truth to power and your love to the sin sick.
We lift up to you cities torn by violence and the disintegration of neighbourly love. We pray for Portland, Oregon and ask that you bring your true peace to anxious hearts. We lift up Athens, Greece, that you might fortify your church with courage that may be generous and gracious to those seeking refuge. We lift up Ceuta, where so many young people have fled with hopes of a new life; Oh Lord move the hearts of officials to pursue a compassionate and human response to each person. May your Son, the Prince of Peace and Saviour of the World be made known in each of these cities.
We need you in every arena of life, so 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 4 June 2021.