Lifting Our Hearts to Join Your Prayers

17 Nov Lifting Our Hearts to Join Your Prayers

Another week, another shooting.  More lives shattered by violence.  Another community stunned by the reality that it doesn’t just happen “to somebody else.”  To the countless prayers that have been offered, I invite us to take a moment now to pray yet again.

Merciful God, we are broken, we are angry, we are selfish, we are beset

by loneliness, anxiety and hopelessness.  

Our lives do not reflect the holiness

to which you have called us.  

Forgive us, Lord.  

Forgive us for erecting walls that separate “us” from “them,” that create barriers between neighbors.  

Forgive the preoccupation with our own lives that prevents us from seeing

the hurts and woundedness of others.  Forgive our hurry and impatience

that causes us to avoid the needs of those we pass by.

We pray for comfort and healing for the victims of violence in our

communities and around the world.  We pray for those who are mourning

the loss of loved ones.  Surround them with your peace and give them

strength.  Bless them with people who will walk alongside them through

the long days and nights ahead.  Bind their hearts together in unity and

love.

In the midst of tragedy and unspeakable horror,

we are grateful for your presence, O God.  

We claim your promise of redemption, trusting that you

can—and will—bring something good, some spark of new life even from the

worst we can do to one another, because evil will not get the last word.   Love

will conquer hate.  Faith will triumph over fear.  Hope will displace despair.

Joy will overcome sorrow.  

As we live in the “already, not yet” of your kingdom, we thank you for the

privilege of being mediators of your love, faith, hope and joy to our family,

friends, classmates, co-workers, and neighbors.  Empower us to live as the

bearers of your light and agents of your peace.  It is not work for the faint of

heart, Lord, but we hear your call, and we want to respond with faithful and

generous spirits.  Fill us anew with your Holy Presence, that we might take

up the banner of your kingdom with joy and perseverance.  

Amen.

Now let us endeavor to live what we pray.

Yours for the Kingdom,

Michelle