Shared during Sunday Worship on April 21, 2024.
God of peace, our hearts are gladdened that we can come before Your presence to worship You. Amid life’s trials, we thank You for hope through Your living and everlasting promises. But our hearts ache, God, that some drown in their efforts to save themselves and in the upheavals of today’s world. For them, we pray, remember Your promises, O God, and give rest on every side.
God, our Restorer, internationally, nations war against one another and insurgents threaten the thriving of governments and populations. We ask for divine wisdom and self-control for all key players in wars and crises, especially in the Middle East, the Arab world, Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, and Asia. For the bereaved, the displaced, the asylum-seeker, and the vulnerable, we pray, remember Your promises, O God, and give rest on every side.
God, our Provider, in the US, may there also be profound peace and justice at all levels of government. In this year of elections, teach us to speak with civility, guide us to concentrate on issues of collective importance, and grace us with discretion to elect godly leaders. To our institutions (schools, churches, non-profits, and the like), may You multiply resources to meet increasing needs where they operate. For these also, we pray, remember Your promises, O God, and give rest on every side.
God of love, in our sanctuary and virtual spaces are varying needs and circumstances. With joined hearts, we invite You into our individual and domestic situations, asking that You provide a way out and fill our homes with lasting love and joy. For our own sake, we pray, remember Your promises, O God, and give rest on every side. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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