Prov. 15:29—The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears
the prayer of the righteous.
Lord, how often we assume that you do not hear us and are
far from us. We dwell in the midst of a wicked generation, and we know our own
wicked hearts, and far too often we utter wicked words. But you have come near
to us, making peace with the Father, and drawing near—far more near than we
dare imagine—with your Spirit. And as the Spirit intercedes for us, we bring
our groanings before you.
We pray particularly for the CUP hearing this Wednesday,
that the righteous may rejoice in laying cornerstones before you. We pray that
you would be near the family of Bob Latham. Grant them the joy of knowing he is
now in your Prescence, free of pain.
There are many who dwell daily in broken bodies among us.
Grant them patience in their pain, and healing in your goodness. We know that
when you walked the earth you had compassion on the broken, and so we ask for
that compassion here and now. Heal our many sick, and comfort our many hurting,
and do so soon.
We pray for our nation at large, that it would turn to
repentance; and we pray for our local concerns: work for those who seek it,
housing for those who need it, and justice for those who fight for it.
Particularly we pray for the Wilsons and their court case, that justice may be
done at last. Stumble the wicked, who are far from you and your light.
There remain more concerns among your congregation than we
can offer here in words. May the Spirit intercede for those as well, and may
you fulfill your word by hearing the prayer of the righteous. Amen.
