Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Nations
Almighty God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit: You taught us to pray not
only for ourselves but for people everywhere:
so now hear us as we pray for others,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
We ask that You inspire Your whole church in power, unity, and peace.
Grant that all who trust you may obey your Word,
and live together in love.
As we pray for the world, we ask that You lead all nations
in the way of Your true justice and righteous goodwill.
Direct those who govern, that they may rule fairly, maintain order,
help those in need, and defend the oppressed;
so this world may know your rule and experience true peace.
(Prayer of Adoration)
Lord of yesterday, today and tomorrow:
You alone rule the universe;
setting times and seasons according to Your will.
While nations and king come and go,
You, only, are King of kings and Lord of lords;
immortal and all-knowing,
never lacking power and wisdom.
You are strong; and you are good!
Therefore, we joyously and reverently call you God and King.
(Prayer of Confession)
Yet, in spite of all we know of You –
we are stubborn and rebellious still.
We think ourselves wise – disregarding Your truth.
We think ourselves strong – using violence to force our will.
We think ourselves right –writing-off others and refusing to
learn from them.
We think ourselves good – ignoring our corruption and evil;
pointing fingers and wagging tongues at others.
Forgive our arrogance minds, self-centeredness hearts
and ungracious spirits.
Take away our hearts of stone;
replace them with hearts of flesh,
hearts that best after Your own heart.
In silent moments, hear us confess what we’re too ashamed to name aloud – forgive and free us, Lord: (Silence)
Lord—You are good and You are strong.
You are faithful and You are loving.
All that we have comes from Your hands:
Hands that …
hold us when we are weak,
heal us when we’re wounded,
protect us when we’re threatened,
guide us when we’re lost,
feed us when we are hungry,
work with us when we labor in Your kingdom.
So … we can with confidence trust all to Your hands.
Into You hands we place those we love and care about
who are ill or injured … in need of healing.
Into Your hands we give those who grieve and mourn.
Into Your hands we give those of us who have too little,
as well as those of us who have too much.
Into Your hands we surrender our nation—and pray for wisdom, courage, grace and compassion for our national and local leaders.
Into You hands we lay the desperate, the despondent and the depressed—
give them hope, Lord;
and then enable them to realize that hope.
In Your hands we entrust the church—
struggling to live the balance of grace and truth,
compassionate caring and convicting declaration.
Into You hands we surrender all.
All to You, Lord, we surrender;
all to You we freely give;
We will ever love and trust You,
in Your presence daily live.
We surrender all, we surrender all,
all to thee, our blessed Savior,
we surrender all.
All to You, Lord, we surrender;
Lord, we give ourselves to You;
worldly pleasures all forsaken;
take us, Jesus, take us now.
We surrender all, we surrender all,
all to thee, our blessed Savior,
we surrender all.
This we pray, in Your name, Jesus,