A pastoral prayer offered on October 25, 2020 at Grace Bible Church in Escondido, CA.
We extol you, our God and King, and we will bless your name forever and ever. Everyday we will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great are you, O God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are greatly to be praised, and your greatness is unsearchable.
You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. You are good to all, and your mercy is over all you have made. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
We praise you for your unchangeable faithfulness to the world you’ve created. You uphold all who are falling and raise up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand to bless us from the great store of your provisions, and you satisfy the desires of every living thing.
We also praise you for your unchangeable faithfulness to us, the covenant people whom you’ve redeemed through Jesus Christ. You are near to all who call on you in truth. You fulfill the desires of those who fear you. You hear our cries, O Lord, so often uttered from anguished hearts, and you save us! You preserve us through the mediation of your Son, the ever present, indwelling Holy Spirit, and the power of your grace.
Our mouths declare your praise, and let every creature bless your holy name forever and ever.
Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have worshiped and served idols of our own making: individualism, consumerism, power and comfort. We have put our hope and trust in that which cannot save or satisfy. Apart from the righteous life, sacrificial death, and present mediation of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we would be utterly lost and ruined.
Gracious God, forgive us for our many sins. Be merciful to us, as you’ve promised to all who repent and confess their sins to you. Grant us grace to love and worship you alone, and to walk in your ways. Restore us to fellowship with you. Renew our communion with you that we might delight ourselves in your goodness, greatness, and beauty. You created us for your self, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Satisfy us this morning with your steadfast love, for no one and nothing else truly can.
Father, we’re thankful this morning for your many kindnesses to us. In particular, we give you thanks for the men and women who worked so hard to ensure we could meet indoors today.
Father, you have made us to be one family, brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. You’ve called us to love and serve each other. Grant each of us grace to adopt the position of servant, the humble, lowly, and sacrificial way of life modeled for us by the Lord Jesus himself.
May we use our ears to listen to one another. Keep us from talking when we ought to be listening. Grant us wisdom to know what and how to speak to others in order to give them grace and built them up. O Lord, may we truly bear each others’ burdens, coming alongside to weep when weeping is called for, to rejoice in each other’s joys.
Lord, by your design, we are all so different from each other. Personalities, experiences, backgrounds. Would you help us to be patient and forbearing with each other, gentle, self-controlled, and reasonable? Make us eager to overlook minor faults, and quick to forgive when we’re sinned against.
Father, grant healing and relief to [name] and [name] as they struggle with many health issues. Grant their doctors wisdom, skill, and compassion.
Pour out your grace upon us, O Lord, grace that meets us in our weakness. We think of those who are alone and those who are confined to home because of health or age. We think of parents trying to balance working from home while educating their children. Some among us are fearful and anxious. We think of those struggling financially. Those struggling with patterns of sin. Those who are overwhelmed by the brokenness of the world. Make good on your promise to strengthen us in our weakness, to renew our strength as we put our trust in you.
As the election nears, make us steady, calm, and confident that you are sovereign over all things, even a presidential election over here in one small part of the world during one little moment of time in the great span of world history. Enable to think and vote as responsible citizens and patient sojourners. No matter what the outcome, let us live in this temporary earthly kingdom called the US, as those who have received and are awaiting a heavenly kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Finally, Lord, we thank you for the faithful churches you’ve planted in this area. We think of NLPC, EURC, EOPC, VCCC, and Mission Life Church. Grant their elders and deacons wisdom as they navigate challenges posed by the pandemic. May their members pursue unity & strive to outdo one another in showing honor. May these congregations of fellow pilgrims continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. May the good news of the gospel reverberate through their words and deeds.
Our great God and Father, you alone are our help. You are the Rock who is higher than we are. You are our Provider and Protector. You have loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope through the grace of Jesus Christ. Comfort our hearts and establish us in every good work and word.
For we pray in the majestic name of our great Prophet, Priest, and King, the Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, Father, and the Holy Spirit in unimaginable splendor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Ryan Wentzel