This morning, I was leading prayer (and reading and singing) for the contemporary service and I had the brilliant idea of praying according to the Lord’s Prayer. Well… it’s actually the Holy Spirit that gave me the idea because I’m not great at extemporaneous prayer, especially when I am really sleep-deprived and have fallen behind in my devotions. This isn’t my exact prayer (or my original outline) from this morning but it’s a way to pray:
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name… I thank You for the opportunity to gather in this place. I am blessed to be here in a place where I may worship You without persecution and fear of death. I thank You for this opportunity to be in Your presence worshipping You, the living God, who moves in my life and on this earth.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven… I pray, Lord, that you would be with me in my daily life, helping me to live your Word out fully in my words and actions. I pray for the decisions I must make in the next week and a half that You would guide me as I make them. Be with Jon and I as we attempt to find our way through the mess that the pre-Internship process has created and discern what Your will is for us.
Give us today our daily bread… Father, take care of Jon and I and give us the things we need — shelter, food, and adequate clothing. Help us to find love in this community and the community where we will be for Jon’s internship. Protect our families and provide for them. I pray now for those who lack even these basic necessities and ask that you would work on the hearts of your followers to help provide these basic things out of the abundance that you give others.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us… Lord, help me to forgive the people who have hurt me. Help me to forgive Pastor Jenkins for the amount of stress and pain her decision has put on Jon and I. I confess that I have triangled the situation with some people and Lord, I am sorry for this. Please forgive me and help me to keep from triangling other people into this that should not be there.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil… I pray that you would be with Joene and others in my classes who are sick. Heal Julie’s arm and help her to deal with the pain caused by the fracture and dislocation. Be with Dani as she mourns for her grandmother and others who are in mourning right now. Let your healing and comforting presence be with them in their time of grief.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory… Help me and my classmates to shine our lights in this world and to show Your power through our testimonies. Help us to tell everyone the kind of work that You have done in us that we might glorify Your name. Lord, shine your light through us that we may light the world.
Amen… Lord, listen to your child praying. Lord send your spirit in this place. Lord listen to your child praying. Send your love, send your power, send your grace. In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
(The last part is a paraphrase of a hymn from “With One Voice” [the blue Lutheran hymnal] called “Lord Listen to Your Children”.) C/S