Note: For personal reasons, I needed to post this prayer early. The prayer for April 7-13 is below. dka
Prayer for April 14-20, 2013
Sermon Text: Acts 9:1-20
That we may face our
fears in order to extend your welcome and healing
Wonder-working God, what rejection and persecution Christ
Jesus has faced in the world—even from some who call upon your name. What trouble and suffering your faithful ones
have endured as they have sought to bear witness with holy speech and compassionate
action.
But . . . what
sorrow and evil the church has brought when it has turned the message of Jesus
into one of hatred and hurt instead of one of compassion, healing and freedom.
In the wonder of
your love, Christ calls people who have rejected and hurt him to follow him as
agents of compassion and healing. Christ
calls those who have refused forgiveness and refused to forgive as agents of
pardon. Christ calls those who are bound
by pride, and who would bind others to control them, as agents of liberation.
We want to follow
Christ, as those who are led by his Spirit, to touch some who resisted him with
his healing love. Enable us to face our
fears in order to utter the words of welcome and healing your Spirit gives. Give us the courage we need for the places we
must go and the people we must face in obedience to your instruction. Amen.
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