prayer of intercession Archives

Strange and stranger

Prayer of intercession

Lord God Almighty,
as Abraham and Sarah extended the gift of hospitality to visiting strangers,
open our hearts to share with others,
and to graciously receive the fulfillment of your promises.
Loving Christ:
Help us share the faith.

Holy Spirit,
Lord God, as we run from new idea to strange idea,
looking in vain for you,
give us eyes to see you present, as you always are,
in the form of the poor, the needy, and the hopeless.
Loving Christ:
Help us share the faith.

Heavenly Father,
creator of visible things, and creator of invisible things,
give us courage to trust you with this day, with tomorrow,
and with our redemption to eternal life.
Loving Christ:
Help us share the faith.

Lord Jesus,
the purity of your heart is obvious
in the single desire to do the Father’s will,
at all times, in all places and at any cost.
Help us keep our eyes focused on you as the singular Lord of our life.
Loving Christ:
Help us share the faith.

Holy Spirit,
inspire us to see Christ alive in our very own lives.
Loving Christ:
Help us share the faith.

Lord Jesus Christ, Great Physician,
remember us who are still in the earthly body,
so that disease may be cured.
We name those who need your healing power ____.
Loving Christ:
Help us share the faith.

Listening God, hear our prayers.
Amen.

~ written by Paul Sauer, posted on re:Worship

From the blog
Theme: Good shepherd [prayer sheet]
The last may be first
Small talk

Deeper, closer

“When I let myself converse truly and deeply with my heart – whether through reading, writing, walking and thinking, or prayer – I find I am conversing with the creator of my heart, who invites me into conversation with him. In that conversation, I don’t always come by the answers I set out to uncover, but I draw closer to the one who holds the answers, and that is enough.”

~ written by Abigail Carroll, from A gathering of larks: Letters to St Francis from a modern-day pilgrim, p. 83

Prayer of Intercession

inspired by Luke 24

You come to us
In unexpected places,
In a crowded room,
In a journey on a dusty road,
In conversation,
In the stillness.
You come in the midst of our doubt, our fear, our sorrow
You come in the power of the resurrection
No pain and suffering is unknown to you.

You bring us peace
And we pray for the places where there is no peace
Countries torn by war
Refugees seeking homes
Prisoners facing torture

You bring peace
Peace to the tensions and conflicts within us
To the regrets, the failure,
The broken relationships
The lost friendships

You bring peace
For you are a friend to us
When we are alone
When we are lonely
Unseen you are there

You bring us peace
And we pray that we too
may become peacemakers.

~ written by Susan Miller, posted on re:worship

From the blog
In the school of prayer with Ignatius of Loyola
To Emmaus and back
Small talk

Deep and unfathomable

Sunset on Lake Balaton outside Budapest

Prayer of intercession

O Lord our God,
You are Love, living and dancing through creation;
You are Light, challenging and purifying our hearts;
You are Peace, deep and unfathomable,
working through and beyond all pain and conflict.

We praise you for the gift of life itself;
we praise you for our fragile and beautiful planet;
we praise you for the richness and variety of different races and cultures;
we praise you for human love and laughter;
we praise you for the sheer fun of celebration.

Use us now as channels of blessing for those in need:
for victims of famine, especially in …,
for victims of war, especially in …,
for victims of hatred, prejudice and injustice;
for those who are ill or depressed,
the lonely, and those longing to be alone;
and for those who have lost all hope of finding a home,
or finding work.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Risen Christ,
breaking the bonds of evil and death,
shine on us, and on those for whom we pray,
with your eyes of compassion and glory.
Let your light flood the darkness in us and in our world,
and make us bearers of
      your healing for people,
      your delight in this planet,
      and your outrageously generous forgiveness,
on which we all depend,
through Christ our Lord,
our Lover and our Saviour.
Amen.

by Angela Ashwin,
from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #391

From the blog
Pilgrims together
Sister moon
In the school of prayer with Ann Lewin

Miraculous supply

Remember this story from John’s gospel? Most of it takes place behind the scenes, as Jesus quietly saves the day. Still, there are those who get a glimpse of his glory and all those present at the wedding get to taste and enjoy the fruits.

¹ The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. ³ The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

⁴ “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

⁵ But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶ Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. ⁷ Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, ⁸ he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.

⁹ When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. ¹⁰ “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

¹¹ This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

John 2:1-11, NLT

Prayers of the people

inspired by John 2:1-11

Eternal God of the ages, we would bow as empty vessels waiting to be filled but our minds and souls are busy with many things which impede our being filled by you. We become preoccupied with our worries.

We worry about our children.
We worry about our personal finances.
We worry about how well we will perform our duties.
We worry about our health.
We worry about terror in our world.
We worry about war.

Help us to divest ourselves of the cares and troubles which so daily beset us. Empty us of them now that we may be filled.

May we be filled with a sense of your presence.
May we be filled with the touch of your spirit.
May we be filled with new energy.
May we be filled with your power.
May we be filled with trust and faith.

Empower us as we worship here and then enable us to impact your world for Jesus. Change the stagnant water of our lives to wine and touch us as you touched those people in Cana.

Be with our men and women in harm’s way and all those touched by the tragedy of war. Give them strength for each day as daily they must live with terror.

Give to the leaders of our world the resolve to wage war not on people but on poverty, injustice, hunger, disease, and all manner of human suffering. Give them the vision to shape a new world where self-interest is tempered and corrected by love and compassion and a hunger for justice.

Give to all the world the gift of being filled with new wine and new vision.
Amen

~ written by Richard Einerson, and posted on re:worship

From the blog
Quiet near a little stream
St Patrick’s Breastplate embodied
In the school of prayer with Anselm

In all seasons – grow

On a frosty morning … (Photo: Irene Bom)

Prayers of the People

For all the blessings of this life,
we give thanks to You, Creator God.
For families, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and strangers,
who nurture us, that the love of God may grow within.
That Your love, your Word, like a seed,
may grow to produce in us, good fruit.

May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong.

For the leaders of various nations and cities,
that they may lead with strong hearts
and gentle hands and generous spirits,
with compassion and mercy, with wisdom and grace.
May they reflect your will guiding all their actions and decisions.

May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong.

For those who serve in harm’s way,
those who live in dangerous places,
those who live in areas of war and strife,
those who live in fear,
those who worry about employment, bills, food,
and struggle just to find dignity in life.
May your grace bring peace and safety to all people, one to another.

May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong.

For those who suffer from any illness or dis-ease—
of mind, body, or spirit.
Restore these, and all those we carry in our hearts, to fullness of health—
health as only you, O God, can bring.
May your mercy shower each of us with healing mercy and love.

May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong.

For those who are dying, and for those who have died.
Send forth your comforting love.
Give solace to those who mourn.
Console those who grieve.
May your grace surround us
like a mantle upon our heads,
a shawl upon our shoulders,
a hand, to hold our hand.

May your love, be like a seed, taking root and growing strong.

Amen

— written by Terri and posted on revgalblogpals.org

From the blog
3 Prayers to the Sacred Trinity
In the school of prayer with Ignatius of Loyola
A Peace Garden

Consider their splendour

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.” (Luke 12:27)

A prayer – for splendour restored

inspired by Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146:5-10

For the speechless tongues of those oppressed
For weak hands, feeble knees, widowed, spirits
Made lame, we pray

For those orphaned from war, violence, fear
Parentless children, silent, stifled cries. For the
Hungry, we pray

For wives, beaten, abused, trampled, shot
Spirits abandoned, imprisoned by fear. For
Women, we pray

In the dry land of desert wilderness, parched
Stranded spirit, a deer that cannot leap. For the
Broken, we pray

Blessed are those whose help is God
Happy are those whose hope is God, for the
Good News, we pray

For the Good News of God, born human, who
Comes to live and love us, as us, be glad, rejoice,
Singing, we pray

For hope, like blooming flowers in a dusty desert
For hope, compassion bursting forth, be strong!
God is with us.
Amen.

~ written by Terri C. Pilarski, and posted on RevGalBlogPals. Originally published in a prayer resource for Sixteen Days of Prayer Advocating for the End of Domestic Violence, 2010.

Hear and answer

(Photo: Irene Bom)

Appealing to God to hear and answer is a recurring theme in the Scriptures. Here are a few examples from the Psalms:

Psalm 27:7
Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.

Psalm 55:2
… hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught

Psalm 86:1
Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

This Prayer of Intercession draws heavily on this tradition, most noteably in the repetition of the words, “Gracious God, hear our prayer, and in Your love, answer.“

Prayer of Intercession

based on Exodus 3:1-15, Romans 12:19-21, Matthew 16:21-28

Gracious God,
In love You created us,
and in love You sustain us, day after day.
So it is with confidence that we bring our prayers to You,
knowing that You hear us, and will respond.

We pray for the world around us,
for the many who continue to suffer and call out for help:
      for those without enough to eat;
      for those caught up in violence and political uprisings;
      for those picking up the pieces after a natural disaster;
      for those desperate to find work to support their families.

Gracious God, hear our prayer,
and in Your love, answer.

We also pray for family and friends who are suffering:
      those struggling physically or emotionally,
      those working to overcome mental illness;
      those facing challenges at home or at work;
      those grieving the death of a loved one.

Gracious God, hear our prayer,
and in Your love, answer.

God, You have called us to pray for our enemies;
to bless, rather than curse, those who deliberately seek to harm us.
We bring their names before You now—
      those who have hurt us, physically or emotionally;
      those who have stolen from us,
            or cheated us of what was rightfully ours;
      those who have spread rumours about us,
            or turned our friends against us.
We ask You to bless them.
Open our hearts so that we may see them as You see them,
and be able to respond to them with Your love.

Gracious God, hear our prayer,
and in Your love, answer.

We pray for Your church around the world,
that it would be a living demonstration of Your coming kingdom:
      offering hospitality to all,
      ready to help in times of need,
      showing love to friends and enemies alike,
      seeking to live in peace with all.

Gracious God, hear our prayer,
and in Your love, answer.

God, we praise You for Your faithful love,
and for the mercy You have shown toward us.
Open our eyes to recognize Your presence in our lives.
Give us grace to hear Your call,
and courage to follow without hesitation,
knowing that Your way is the only way that leads to life.

In the name of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord,
Amen.

source: re:worship

More posts featuring Prayers of Intercession

Man of Sorrows

(Photo: Irene Bom)

Prayer of intercession

Jesus, Saviour,
Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,
we come to you
for you alone can make us whole.

Jesus, Saviour,
wounded for our transgressions,
bruised for our iniquities,
we come to you
for you alone can make us whole.

Jesus, Saviour,
we come as a church broken by factions,
weak in our mission,
wavering in our faith.
We come to you
for you alone can make us whole.

Jesus, Saviour,
we come as people of the world,
torn by war,
ruined by greed,
spoilt by selfishness.
We come to you
for you alone can make us whole.

Jesus, Saviour,
we come as members of a family,
insensitive to each other,
blind to tears and deaf to cries.
We come to you
for you alone can make us whole.

Jesus, Saviour,
we come with the sick at heart,
we come with the ill in mind,
we come with the diseased in body.
We come to you
for you alone can make us whole.

from The Open Gate: Celtic Prayers for Growing Spiritually
by David Adam, p.64-5

From the blog

Within the ranks of caring angels

This illustration dates from 2003, created to accompany a tribute to the “angels on assignment” who ministered to my dad and my family when we met up in Cape Town for a last Christmas together just weeks before my dad died. The illustration features a wood-carving that I bought during that trip and that now hangs in my front window.

Here is a prayer by Bruce Prewer for all those angels, human and heavenly, ministering in needy situations here on earth.

Prayer of Intercession

The word angel originally meant “messenger.”
For God’s angels on this earth,
let us now pray.

We thank you, loving God,
that you do not leave us without helpers.
Thank you for your special agents, those guardian angels —
both human and heavenly — who never cease to care.

Wherever there are situations of confusion,
where doubts proliferate and anxieties spawn,
please send in your angels of light.

Wherever people are crippled by guilt,
or deeply regret damage to others which they can never rectify,
send in your angels of mercy.

Wherever there is arrogance and deceit,
corruption and rapacious greed,
send in your fiery angels of judgement.

Wherever ignorance reigns
or superstition cripples individuals or communities,
please send in your angels of truth.

Wherever persons or nations become obsessed with aggression,
or resort to terrorism and warfare,
send in your agents of peace and goodwill.

Wherever families are at loggerheads,
or in the workplace folk feel alienated from one another,
send in your angels of reconciliation.

Wherever people see their future as bleak or dangerous,
and fall into the trap of inertia or despair,
please send in your angels of hope.

Wherever the church becomes exclusive,
or gets caught up in its own regulations,
traditions, or inflexible dogma,
send in your angels of reformation.

Wherever ministers lose their passion for the Gospel,
or congregations become self-satisfied or apathetic,
please send in your angels of rebuke.

Wherever there are people who are afflicted by disease
or injured in accidents,
struggle against mental ills
or suffer from criminal violence,
send in your angels of healing.

Wherever the dying endure fears or pain,
and the bereaved either shed the hot tears of a fresh grief
or endure the long-term loss of a partner or friend,
send in your angels of comfort.

Loving God,
Lord of all the messengers of grace on earth and in heaven,
hear our prayers and enlist us, please God,
within the ranks of your caring angels.
Through Jesus Christ your only True Son,
our Saviour and our inspiration.
Amen!

written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s website.

Have you got your next angel assignment yet?

from the blog: Fierce love #2

Precious dust

Hello Beautiful
Tramstop outside Rotterdam Central Station (Photo: Irene Bom)

A prayer by Paul Sauer that mentions God’s presence with us in “our wilderness journeys” and reminds us we are dust – God’s “precious dust”.

Prayers of the People

(based on Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 107, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21)

Heavenly Father, when we feel that we have lost direction as a people, or even as a person, help us remember your presence in our wilderness journeys.