A Prayer for Mizzou, Paris, Beirut, and Beyond

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Yesterday I had the privilege of leading my congregation in prayer. Here is the script I used for the base of my prayer.

I want to open our prayer time with a couple of minutes of personal prayer. This has been a very difficult week for our country and our world. As the music plays I want you to cry out to God. In a couple of minutes I will end our prayer time.

In the words of David in Psalm 61:

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
² From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I ³ For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
⁴ I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

Lord, we’ve gathered here today, some of us walked in triumphantly and some of us barely crawled out of bed. Thank you that you meet us where we are and you take us into the shelter of your wings.

This week we are mindful of all of the college students in Missouri and beyond who are working to make the universities in our country equal for all. We ask you for breakthroughs, softening of hearts, and systemic transformation. We ask you to protect them as they work for justice.

Our hearts are heavy for those who suffered at the hands of violence this week. We are mindful of those who lost their lives and were injured in Beirut, Paris, and Baghdad. We are also mindful of those who continue to suffer at the hands of oppressors in Syria and beyond. We pray for resolution, for the healing of broken communities and broken bodies, and for the peace that transcends understanding to reign.

We pray for those on the ground seeking to be the hands and feet of Christ. Specifically, we pray for Quester, Davis who is serving Syrian refugees in Greece. Protect him. Guide him. Help him to feel your presence. 

Like David, we call to you as our hearts grow faint. Please, Lord, lead us to a rock that is higher than us. We long to dwell in your house, lord. We take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

So we cling onto your promises as we ache for the hurting in this world.
We know that you will never leave us.
We know that you comfort the broken-hearted.
We know that you are the author of peace.
We know that you are the giver of life.

As we move forward, help our response to have the fragrance of Christ. 

 

So come, Lord Jesus, come.

Risen Lord, teach us to trust the power of your cross…bear the burdens we are too weak to carry.

In the name of the father, son, and the holy spirt, Amen.