I was reading through this prayer that we said one time at church back in Minnesota. While I was reading it, I noticed all of these things I have already been praying, but especially more since being in Africa. I encourage you to read every word and ask God how it applies to your life in this season.
Gracious God: Father to the Fatherless, Healer of the Broken, Savior of the World, Great in Power, Slow to Anger, and Abounding in Love,
We, your people, acknowledge and cherish your presence with us. Everything in us cries out for you, the Living God, for your Spirit is water to our souls.
We confess that we often forget that you are with us. Help us to remember your constant nearness.
We confess that we have not loved you or our neighbors well. Help us to love, as you first loved us.
We confess that, in pride, we often hide our brokenness and frailty from you and from others. Help us to be vulnerable.
We confess that we have searched for significance from sources other than your perfect love. Help us to fix our eyes on you. Give us pure hearts and right motivations, according to your grace and mercy.
We remember those in our world that are suffering: we pray for the poor, the hungry, the oppressed and the sick; the orphans and widows; the oppressed, the outcasts, and the captives. Help us to be quick to come to their aid. Lead us, Lord, and we will follow you.
We pray for those in our world who are affected by war and violence and who often taste the sting of death far earlier than they should. We long for peace and justice for all those you have created.
Awesome, Holy, and Eternal God, we celebrate you today for who you are. We acknowledge that you are full of beauty, full of strength, perfect in all your ways, fully just, and fully loving. Our minds cannot fathom the extent of all that you are.
Generous and Compassionate God, we are thankful for all that you have done for us. You have always been faithful to your people, although we have often failed you. You are our healer, provider, and defender. Miraculously, you work all things together for our good. Never once have we walked alone on our journeys, and we are forever grateful.
Most of all, we thank you for Jesus – the image of the invisible God, the Suffering Servant, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, who died for us. In Him, all things are reconciled and redeemed. In Him, we are free. We will sing HIs name, and tell His story, for as long as we have breath.
Thoughts since being here in Africa:
– Our running water goes out multiple times a week: Pray for water but also pray for us to depend on God
– A lot of our ministry this month is evangelism: Pray for boldness but also pray for the Holy Spirit to lead all of our steps
– Team changes are coming up: Pray for good endings to our current teams but also pray we find our belonging in Christ
Love you all & thank you for reading.
