A Prayer for the World and Me
Dear Heavenly Father,
I see Your presence and grandeur all around me in the world today! As I look around, I see there are amazing evidences of your creativity and power, things that inspire and restore us! Just to name a few, there are: kind people, loving family or friends, babies and children, loving pets, answers to prayers, the four seasons, mountains and oceans, deserts and marshes, lakes and rivers. There are salt-water animals and fresh-water ones, land animals and birds, hills and plains, forests and jungles. There are beaches and waterfalls, refreshing rains and stunning snowfalls, fruit trees and flowers, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets! There is soft grass for children to play on, a delightful moon for evening walks, and ample air to breathe. Thank you for this wonderful world!
The Bible speaks of Your loving-kindness, mercy, grace, wisdom, holiness, righteousness, omni-presence, and power. You are eternal. There is no one like You, God! Thank You for sending Jesus to earth so that we could get to know You in a more personal way. We see you through Jesus. His words, deeds, miracles, and compassion help us get to know what You’re like. Thank You that Jesus died for us, to save us from the penalty our sins deserve and to give each believing human being the free gift of eternal life, received through faith alone! ¹ I am forever grateful! May Your family increase! May the message of Jesus’ life and salvation be carried to the whole world. ² May those who bring it be courageous, clear, and kind, such that all who hear and understand it would receive Jesus. ³
Yes, there are also sad and hard things in this world. I pray for peace for my family, my neighbors, my church, my city, my country, and the world, for people of every class, color, and ethnicity. For anyone suffering from pain or grief, give them strength, comfort, and relief. I pray for the hungry, the sick, the homeless, the poor, the disenfranchised, the oppressed, refugees, those in prison, those in slavery, and those in danger from criminals, terrorists, gangs, war, severe weather, or governments. Give them courage, help, healing, homes, safety, deliverance, daily food, jobs, financial sustenance, faith, and freedom. I cannot meet all these needs alone, but show me what I can do, say, or give, in order to participate in relieving the suffering of others. May Your Holy Spirit lead me to do the good works You have prepared in advance for me to do. ⁴ Then, grant me the courage and means to follow through.
Thank You for my life, my family, my friends, a house, and enough food. Thank You for my strengths and weaknesses, my blessings and challenges, my joys and disappointments, and even for the people who are hard to love, who likewise have value. Help me to be gracious, and to forgive others just as You have loved and forgiven me. ⁵ Here are the personal concerns I bring to You today. I lift up these cares to You... ⁶
Help me to trust You, no matter the outcome of each request. Open my eyes and heart to see where You are at work in my world, ⁷ As I go through each day, may I notice both the “fingerprints” of Your loving kindnesses and the “embraces” of Your powerful presence— and then give You thanks and praise.
Lack of joy comes from a lack of peace and hope. Lack of peace and hope come from fear and believing my negative thoughts and feelings. Fear is the opposite of faith and trust in God. God sees my circumstances and can bring good out of every disappointing, difficult, or painful event in my life, even if I don’t live to see it. He is sovereign. ⁸
Dear Lord, please help me not to “sit” in fear or negativity, but to “walk” in faith and trust each day. ⁹ You are always with me! ¹⁰ You are gracious and compassionate. ¹¹ I trust You to help me during trials, as a loving Father would. ¹² Please guide my steps. ¹³ “My times are in Your hands.” ¹⁴
“May the God of hope fill (me) with all joy and peace as (I) trust in him, so that (I) may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁵
All this I pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9
Matthew 28:18-20
John 1:12-13
Ephesians 2:10
Luke 11:4
1 Peter 5:7
John 5:17
Psalm 73:28
2 Corinthians 5:7
Hebrews 13:5
Psalm 103:8-14
Matthew 7:11
James 1:5
Psalm 31:15a
Romans 15:13
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