No deep thoughts this week. Just a prayer. Won’t you pray it with me?
Almighty Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth,
Father of our Lord Jesus who once invited all who are weary and burdened to come and receive rest for our souls, we come to you.
We pour out our hearts to you.
The world feels heavy right now: our own burdens are heavy, the weight of the burdens of the people we love and serve are heavy, and as we look at the news our heart aches with the suffering and injustice we see.
It is a weight of grief our hearts, at times, feel too weak to bear, but we look to you.
We lay these burdens at the feet of the only one who can bear them.
Lord lift our eyes to you: Almighty God. Our maker. Our sustainer. Our help. Our shield. Our joy. Our justice. Our love. Our comfort. Our only hope.
We ask for your power in us, by your Spirit, to help us persevere through these days. Strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees that we may continue to run this race well and bring you glory.
Where we find ourselves feeling empty, we ask you to fill us.
Source of all love, fill our hearts with your love so that we may overflow with love for those you place in our lives and on our hearts. Fill us that we may extend love that is not self-interested to the lost and the needy we see around us – at home and abroad. Help us to act in ways that lift others up, encourage them on, and point them to you.
For those of us who are thirsty for peace from the anxiety of this world, we ask you to help us breathe deeply the peace that surpasses understanding, cherishing the ultimate, unshakable peace we have with you through the atoning work of Christ on the Cross. The Cross which declares your justice, mercy, and sovereign plan to our shaky hearts.
For those who are alone or feeling lonely today, Lord please draw near.
For those of us who feel hopeless and dismayed, captivate us again with a vision of the throne room of heaven, from whence your loud voice will one day declare that all things are being made new. Remind us daily – and even hourly as we need it – that we wait for that day to come when there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. A day when justice and mercy will reign, and we will finally be with you.
Come Lord Jesus. We long for that day.
Until then may we proclaim your greatness and walk in faithfulness by the power of your Spirit.
Through the precious name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen