PRAYERS

edited by Tom Faggart

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LEADER'S INSIGHT
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In times of crisis, people look to Christian leaders for comfort
and guidance. They want us to lead them in prayer.

But how should we pray about the terrorist attacks on
September 11?

My pastor wrote the following set of prayers, which people seemed
to greatly appreciate. I offer them to you for you and your
church's times of prayer.

--Kevin Miller
Editor, Leadership Weekly

How to Pray in the Current Crisis
by guest columnist William Beasley

Lord God, comfort all those who mourn for their loved ones. We
pray for those who have lost fathers and mothers, husbands and
wives, family and friends. May your people surround them with
your love.

Lord God, comfort all children who have their imaginations
filled with terror. Give them pictures of hope from their
parents, friends, school, and church family.

Lord God, bring stability to our country. We pray for the
President of the United States and all those in government.
Grant them wisdom, sobriety of mind and heart, compassion and
determination. We pray for your justice and mercy.

Lord God, you have taught us to pray for our enemies. We pray
that they would come to know you. We pray that we would not
respond to evil by spiraling downward into evil, but that your
holy good would overcome evil, and that vengeance would be
yours.

Lord God, you have promised that if a people would humble
themselves and turn from their wicked ways and call out to you
that you would hear their prayers and heal their land
(2 Chronicles 7:14). We are such a people in need of prayer.
Create in us the desire to humble ourselves and bow down to
you. Bring to light any wickedness and grant us the will to
turn from it. Lord, in your mercy, heal our land.

Lord God, we pray that your cross would be lifted up on high
and that the knowledge of you would fill our land. In the midst
of death and despair may we know the power of your
resurrection.

William Beasley is senior pastor of Church of the Redeemer in
Glenview, IL

A Prayer about God's Holiness

O God,
You are holy, and deep within ourselves
where our souls touch the ground,
where our being meets your being,
we are on holy ground
and your holiness surrounds us
and calls our name.

Your holiness is your goodness,
your generosity towards us
and the silence which waits
and hopes and is glad
and disappointed - and waits.

 You wait to meet us,
to make us holy with your holiness,
to make us loving with your love,
to make us hopeful with your hope.

 In your presence we bow our heads
in shame where we have failed others,
failed ourselves and failed you.

Touch us with the tenderness of your forgiveness.
In your presence we breathe new life
when we dare to be still, to be centred,
to be whole, to be holy.

 Set us free to be holy.
Set us free to be for ourselves a place
where sacredness is joy and peace.
And let us be a sacred space for others
and make sacredness for them.

Dwell in us as in a holy temple,
that we may know stillness
and that we sense the fragrance of your love
and bring that fragrance to
where life is a stench and putrid and stale,
within ourselves and within our world.

Through Jesus Christ out Lord. Amen

prepared by William Loader

PRAYER FOR A DAY OF PUBLIC CALAMITY
by Kenneth G. Phifer

How often, O Lord,
   do I read causally of disasters afar?
How often, O Lord,
   do I hear indifferently of catastrophes far removed?
Then when disaster moves close to me
             when catastrophe shatters the calm of my life,
     I come alive to pain and loss.
I know you understand how limited I am,
by my love that fades off into indifference,
by the boundaries of my friendships and personal concerns.
I am just that way.
So come to me now as I pray for the stricken,
for those who grieve and mourn.
Perhaps I will be more sensitive in the future,
more aware,
   a bit gentler and kinder.
For all of us move along the razor's edge between life and death.

Give me a grater appreciation of life and love and other people.
Draw me closer to those whom I profess to love.
Give me the will to be more helpful
            and more aware of others' needs.
In the face of the mystery of life and death,
    give me courage to trust your sustaining daily presence.
Let me not forget that in life and death
   all of us are yours.

I pray for all your children,
   for men and women who live in pain,
        physical and emotional,
   for those who seek and cannot seem to find,
   for those who live confidently
         and yet need that something more
               which comes from fellowship with you in Christ.

We all need your Spirit, O God,
            not just in times of calamity,
      but also in our days of strength and well-being.

So I call upon you, O lord, in this day of trouble.
In my calling, may I hear your voice saying,
      "Lo, I am with you always."  Amen.

    O Lord, the prophets have taught us that "where there is no vision, the people perish". Holy God, create within each of us the desire and the ability to dream creative dreams of goodness. Help us to hear the poetry of life, and the songs of life and joy. Help us to see the beauty of nature, and the good actions of others.
    Help us to feel the love of life, and express it with others. Awaken all of our senses to your goodness,
    And create within us the determination to help you make what it good, wholesome, and right dominate the existence of humanity. In Christ's name. Amen.
 
 
 

    O Holy God, we pray,  that strength and courage abundant be given to all who work for a world of reason and understanding. That the good that lies in every person's heart may day by day be magnified. That humanity will come to see more clearly not that which divides them, but that which unites them. That each hour may bring us closer to a final victory, not of nation over nation, but of humanity over our own evils and weaknesses. That the true spirit of this day ...its joy, its beauty, its hope, and above all its abiding faith ...may live among us. That the blessings of peace be ours ...the peace to build and grow, to live in harmony and sympathy with others, and to plan for the future with confidence. In Christ's name. Amen.
 

    God, O Lord; we pray that we may never lose our way through life and end up in the far countries of the soul:
            That we may never abandon the struggle for truth, but that we may endure to the end,
                and be saved.
            That we may never choose the cheap and passing things,
                and let go the precious things that last forever.
            That we may never choose the easy way in preference
                to the right way to accomplish good in this world.
            That we may not forget that few things are achieved
                without the expenditure of self, and our earthly goods.
    O Lord, keep and strengthen us by your grace and mercy.
This we ask in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
 
 

    Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

    O God, You have bound us together in life through your church. Give us grace to understand how our lives depend upon the courage, the industry, honesty, and integrity of each other. Help us to respect each others needs, and to show our gratefulness for extended kindnesses. Grant us power to gage our time.
Let us not waste it on useless anxieties, and self pity.
Let us use disappointments as material for patience.
Let us use success as substance for thankfulness.
Let us use suspense as matter for perseverance;
Let us use danger as a cause for courage;
Let us use pleasure as an intangible for temperance;
     and help us to use pains as element for endurance.
Grant us, O Lord, the power to take control of our lives.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
 

    O Lord, We bless thy name because you love us and are vitally concerned about our well being. As we become aware of your love we are able to experience love for self and others. Hear us this day as we express our concern for our brothers and sisters. Today we intercede for:
    Those destitute in body, soul or spirit,
    Those who acknowledge their dependence upon thee,
    Those saints and servants who have poured out their life's
         energy seeking to make a better way for the next generation;
    And for those who have honestly given their all and failed.
Hear our prayers, O Lord, we pray; in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
 

    Everlasting God, Whose spoken Word brought order and life into existence at creation. Brood over our unruly spirits until they too reflect thy divine image.  In Jesus Christ we behold the fullness of life for which our spirits hunger. Move among us and within us, that we may receive thy power and glory in a like manner in our lives. O Lord, increase the fruits of goodness among us until all thoughts and desires become obedient unto the mind of Christ. Fill us with the love of Christ. Fill us with love for you. Fill us with love for self and others. In the name of Jesus the Christ, we pray. Amen.
 

      Holy God, we come to this place this day to praise you and for renewal. In order for this intention to succeed there are some goals to achieve.
    Grant us joy in doing thy will and in the knowledge that we belong to you.
    Grant us patience until we no longer fret over the success of evil
        because we have confidence in  the ultimacy of your Will.
    Strengthen our lives so that they commend you to others.
    Bestow upon us a gentleness that the sorrowing may be comforted,
       and the injured be drawn to you.
    Empower us with self control to rule over our own spirits
      so we may be fit instruments of your will.
    In the name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen.