Prayer for October 25-31, 2015 

Sermon Text: Mark 10:46-52

That we may have the faith that leads to healing

God of truth and mercy, give us the kind of faith that leads to healing.  Enable us to hope and trust in You with such unwavering intent that we receive the fullness of blessing and peace that You intend for us.

When we cry to You from our spiritual blindness, heal our sight.  Enable us to see your presence and action in the world around us.  Enable us to move forward into the light of truth that brightens our way.  Let us follow You as your healed people.

Forgive us when we doubt your ability to heal.  Forgive us when we fail to perceive the needs others have for your compassionate intervention. Forgive us when we become obstacles to others who seek your healing.  

Enable us to be compassionate and fruitful participants in your healing mission.  Amen.

Prayer for October 18-24, 2015 

Sermon Text: Mark 10:35-45

That we may abandon our imagined greatness and serve others with joy

Christ, You call us to follow You, but somehow we sometimes imagine that we are too good to simply follow.  Certainly we should be in charge of others!  Certainly others should be serving us and deferring to us and standing in awe of our greatness.  Certainly we should have special positions of honor close to your side.

You invite us to keep following You.  You assure us that if we do so we will have a share in your suffering and death.  You instruct us that the way of greatness is the way of service.  And you show us that way of service by your own daily example and by your suffering and death on our behalf, and on behalf of the entire creation.

Enable us to understand the life to which You have called us.  Enable us to set aside inflated visions of our own importance in order to follow your example of service to each other.  Enable us to set aside competition for highest honors among our sisters and brothers.

Forgive us when we think and act as though following You were meant to enhance our image and make others subservient to us.  Forgive us when we fail to give our lives in service of your reign and in service of our neighbors.  

Transform our pride into willing and joyful service.  Amen.

Prayer for October 11-17, 2015 

Sermon Text: Mark 10:17-31

That we may release our anxiety and cling to You in trust

Christ Jesus, how often our wealth limits our ability to hear your word and follow in your way.  We want it all – and heaven too!

We cling to our wealth.  We trust it.  We are controlled by resources that we believe we control.  We are unable to see the ways that we are deceived by our accumulations of money and other material resources.  We are unable to see the needs of many around us because we are anxious to hold onto what we have obtained, believing that our future is constantly under threat, but more fully secured by our wealth.  

Help us to release our anxiety and cling to you instead of to the wealth that has become such a powerful false god among us.  Help us to open our hands and share generously with our neighbors, particularly those who live with many unmet needs.  Help us to set aside whatever we must in order to follow where You lead us and participate in your community of joyful generosity. Amen.

Prayer for October 4-10, 2015 

Sermon Text: Mark 10:2-16

That our hard hearts will be softened to receive your word

Jesus, when we come to You, we often come hoping that You will allow us to pursue our own agendas and do things as we want to do them.  But You see our hardness of heart.  You recognize our attempts to manipulate You.  You know that we may not heed your instruction.

Still, You direct us to the heart of God’s desire for God’s people.  You call us to lives of enduring fidelity.  You call us to listen and obey.  You warn us not to rip apart the unity that God has created through marriage.  You warn us not to push each other into adultery.

We are so sophisticated that we can rationalize any choice we make.  We are arrogant and self-willed.  And You call us to be otherwise.  You call us to be like children.  You show us your love for those who are vulnerable as you bless them. You invite us to practice such love too. 

Forgive us for our arrogance.  Forgive us for treating others as disposable commodities.  Forgive us for abusing others, including our spouses, and driving them away.  Heal those for whom marriage is or was a great wound requiring escape.

Soften our hearts.  Enable us to put away our rationalizations, self-justifications, and desire to push every boundary.  

Enable us to welcome You and receive your word with the delight of children.  Amen.

Prayer for September 27-October 3, 2015 

Sermon Text: Esther 7:1-10; 9-22

That we may perceive and respond to the threats your people face

God, how often You work in surprising ways and through unlikely people in order to bring truth to light and save your people from evil and death.

Help us to listen to the wise teachers who challenge us with their truthful words and who urge us to act with courageous faith in the face of powerful threats.  

Give us awareness of the deep threats that your people face.  As we pray for others, give us discernment of the ways that we can act in order to be agents of your deliverance.  Enable us to act with courage even when faithful action places us in danger.  And when we see your work of deliverance unfold, free us to celebrate with joyful feasting and generous gift giving that honors your presence among us.  Amen.

Note 1: I've posted early because I won't be around this weekend.

Note 2: This is not intended to encourage American Christians to overestimate the amount of persecution we face.  

Prayer for September 20-26, 2015 

Sermon Text: Mark 9:30-37

That we may follow You in vulnerability and care for the vulnerable as You did

Jesus, in spite of the power and authority you demonstrated through your wonderful works and your proclamation of God’s nearness, You walked among us in vulnerability, conscious of the hatred your goodness inspired, and of your inevitable death at the hands of those who rejected the good news You enacted on a daily basis.

In spite of the fact that You came as God’s Anointed One, You took the role of servant of all, and instructed your disciples that those who sought greatness must be servants of all.  You call us to welcome children and other vulnerable people as the way to welcome You and the One who sent You.  

Enable us to be obedient and vulnerable disciples by welcoming and serving those who are vulnerable without knowledge or choice.  As we open our hearts to those around us, may our hearts be more and more open to You, and to our Sovereign God with whom You are eternally One.  Amen.

Prayer for September 13-19, 2015 

Sermon Text: Mark 8:27-38

That we may comprehend and cling to God’s priorities

Jesus, in spite of the faith statements that we have claimed as our own and repeated together in our worship, some days we are unclear about who You really are.  We think about You as challenging Prophet or wise Teacher, but fail to perceive that You are God’s Chosen Sovereign and Healer of every dimension of human life and creation.

In our confusion, we want to avoid your nonviolent walk in the way of suffering, rejection and death.  But when we resist your chosen path, we experience your rebuke and correction.  

Enable us to comprehend and cling to God’s priorities.  Give us courage to follow You in the way of the cross—the way of suffering.  Enable us to abandon our efforts at self-preservation in order to give all for You.  Give us courage to share your presence and your word with the world.  Free us from any shame we may have about being your people and representing You in the world.  Amen.