Heavenly Father,
You knew us in our mother’s womb even before we took our first breath. You know us even to our last breath. We rejoice in the knowledge of your mercy towards us. Your faithful love shines bright through the Cross of Christ. So, thank you for this grace that has brought us into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You have given us eternal life!
You specialize in delivering the condemned from the clutches of death. But you have nor done it with some deceptive scheme but with the utter honesty of your Son, in the flesh. Full of truth and grace He has proclaimed peace to those who were near and to those who far; all of us are called to repent for your Kingdom is near now through the Risen Lord.
We praise you for you have rescued us from this body of death and have set us free from the law of sin. Now your love accompanies us in the denial of self as we follow Jesus in this world. Now your love is what we rely on.
By your Spirit we join with the cry of Creation for your help and your Kingdom.
We lift up to you nations taken up in power struggles whether through democracy or some measure of authoritarianism. Grant these people peace and generous trust toward each other: Belarus, Haiti, the United States, Hong Kong, China, Mali, Tanzania, and Lybia.
We lift up to you our friends and neighbours seeking places to live here in Vancouver. Help them secure safe and reliable settings for housing and friendship.
We lift up to you students in Canadian colleges and universities even as they are scattered across the world. Oh how unbelief seems to reign among all generations! We are asking you to disturb the hearts of your children so that we might declare our affection for you and the glory of your Gospel. May our love include the proclamation of your truth.
Heavenly Father, we seek you, and so we pray as Jesus taught us:
(Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever.
Amen.
This prayer was part of the Origin Church Weekend Broadcast on 21 August 2020: