Afflicted in Body, Mind, and Soul

 

James, the fifth chapter: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth for the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Lord, there are many afflicted here, in body, mind, and soul. You command them to pray, and so we come before your throne with our petitions. Those hurt in body are the easiest to spot and the easiest to remember before You. We pray for Whitney Maier and Karen Christiansen, as they deal with bodies under our weary curse. We pray for those dealing with long-suffering, such as the Berglunds and Snells,

Daniels and Stutzmans, Vanderploegs and many others. Raise up all the sick and save them from their sins and temptations.

We pray for those wounded in mind, and those who faithfully care for them morning and night. It is an often thankless and fearful task, but you see all. Give them your comfort, and help us to give them ours.

And we pray for those with wounded souls, an invisible crowd without number. Be with those who desire to be married; they walk a lonely path. Be with Pastor Wilson and the brothers in Brazil as they minister to the hungry there, and grant them your protection. Be with the presidents and headmasters of all the schools in our area, as they mold—knowingly or unknowingly—immortal souls and their desires. We particularly ask for your wisdom for President Merkle as he decides how to deal with our petty city officials. And we pray that the Christ Church Hall would be finished soon, so that our community may grow and take root and flourish and testify. For he who converts a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins. So we ask all this and more, most boldly.

Amen

Petitions, King's Cross, Sept. 22, A.D. 2024

Build Up David's Throne

 The 89^th Psalm:  Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. 

 

Lord, we love to sing of your mercies in this gathering. You are indeed faithful to all generations, from Adam down to the infant born this very morning. You have given your Word on the cross and in the Scriptures, and we are to spread that good news as far as we can. So first we thank you for an organization doing just that: Huguenot Heritage, for Francis Foucachon and the other members of that organization, working to bring your mercy to French-speaking lands. We ask that you bless their work with startling success and bring your wonderful covenant to even more of your chosen.

But evangelism is not the only method you have chosen to build up David’s throne. You have sworn to establish it “for all generations”—and in order to have those generations, you must grant us new ones to replace the old. And godly generations are most numerous when they are the fruit of godly marriages. So thank you for our marriages here at King’s Cross. In a Western world where most have never even seen constant, day-to-day faithfulness lived out between a man and a woman, you have made us abound in it. We do not thank you enough for that. So when our spouse delights—or frustrates—us this week, remind us to praise your wonders in marriage.

We bless your faithfulness to the congregations of the saints. Who can compare with it? Particularly we bring before you Covenant Presbyterian Church of Alberta, Canada, and their pastor Chris Cousine. We are grateful that lockdowns gave them the spark to gather together—establish their lampstand firmly.

And in all our other, unspoken blessings, help us to fear you as we ought, and not grow in easy contempt through out closeness.

 Amen.

Thanksgivings, King's Cross May 26th, A.D. 2024

Deliver Me, O Lord, From Mine Enemies

 

Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.--Ps. 143

 

Lord, we live in a world covered in enemies and foes. Some are out in the open, seeking to use their own power or even the power of others to crush us and our works. Some hide near us and whisper slanders and shame. Our own flesh shrieks rebellion, the very ground we work delivers thistles in return our toil. So deliver us, Lord, from all these enemies—we flee to you to hide from them. Thank you that when we flee we do not have far to go.

Be with Logos School members in their trials, and with the elders and deacons of Christ Church and King’s Cross as we attempt to build for the future here in our little corner. We pray also for the rest of your Temple: for the persecuted saints in India, for the Christian members of our legislative assemblies, for all those unsure of how to handle our troubled times. We ask that you grant them knowledge and teach them to do all Your will; for You are God: Your spirit is good; and you have promised to lead us into the land of uprightness out of a dark pit, or even a grave. For You even know the way out of one of those.

Let this comfort all here who feel the shadow of their grave fall on them: the sick and suffering. Particularly, be with those having operations, those with permanent sickness, and the rest of our saints whose names we bring before you every Sunday. Bring them to fullness of life, Lord, for your name’s sake, and for your righteousness’s sake (since we have none) bring them out of trouble. We have more suffering than we can name, but you have more righteousness than we could ever comprehend. And you promised it to us, in your own beloved Son.

So in thy mercy cut off our enemies, and destroy all them that afflict our souls: for this congregation is your servant.

Petitions King's Cross Feb. 18, A.D. 2024

The Things At Hand

 

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Lord, we keep many things near at hand. Some of them are good things: blessings, honors, every kind and every sort of stuff. Some of them are not as good: fears, sins, even sheer indifference. But you call us here to remember that you are truly the God who is near, and so we bring our petitions to you with renewed awareness.

A Garden of Bright Eyes

 Psalm LXIX: I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Lord, we come before you absolutely loaded down with blessings. One of the greatest of these blessings stands (or sits, or wiggles) among us during this service. In this room are a horde of small immortal souls--the children you have given our families. We thank you for all of them. In an age of barren desolation we live in a garden of bright eyes, tiny fingers, and innocent laughter. We thank you especially for the safe arrival of Eben, Lucas, and Hazel. May they grow strong and holy over the coming years.

Lines in Pleasant Places

Psalm XVI: The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. For the LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; you maintain my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Lord, we know that we are to look to you alone for refuge, and when we are safely in that refuge we are to praise you for what you have given. Our thanksgivings are to be a confirmation of your goodness. They are to be our testimony before the world that you are a God who answers, unlike all those silent gods who cannot even speak their own names. So we come before you to offer the cup of our praising hearts, back to the one who gave them in the first place.

Thank you for what has fallen in pleasant places: for our wonderful community of the saints, which may gather without danger or interruption for the gifts of the word and sacraments. And you do not bless us alone, but all your people in the West have this unappreciated gift. In particular, we thank you for the gathering of saints in Denver called Redeemer Community Church. May Pastor Rodland and their elders shepherd them well during a time of growth.

Those Thirsty for the Water of Life

Rev 21:6 “And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will inherit all things, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”

Lord, you are the one seated on the throne, both in the heavens above and in each of our hearts. You are the great gift-giver, whose gifts are trustworthy and true. Some of those gifts are harder to bear; some of them press us down with pains and sorrows and worries and doubts. Help us to remember that we are given these things because we need them—that we may not grow fat and lazy and forget you, as your people so often have. If we are your heirs, your sons in Christ, than we have your ear. Give it to us now.

We lift up those thirsty for the water of life. Without it, our flimsy flesh breaks down with cancer, failure, sickness, and pain. We pray for all those who are dealing with such things, and ask for a sip of healing in this life, that they may have a sweet taste of the world to come, where they can drink deeply and without payment. Especially we pray for the Flickners and Tristan, that you would not test them beyond what they can bear, but quickly bring them the cool draughts of the river of life.

We lift up those who go out to conquer. Each of us has many trials coming this week—trials we are ignorant of until they leap upon us with outstretched claws. Help us to rely on your strength, your armor, and your tactics in our battles! Give Paula Nadreau and the Madsens peace and victory as they go out to capture immortal souls among the nations; far from home but not from their Captain. Give our expectant mothers and church officers peace and victory as they build immortal souls from the ground up. Give those in the training camps of our schools, college, and ministries peace and victory as they build warriors for Christ one idea at a time. Do not let them grow weary in doing good work. And give the civil realm peace where ever your people gather, that they may do all this without distraction.

We know we do not ask this in vain, for you are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, and you have promised to have us inherit all things. Nothing can stand against such a promise, for we have it written down in a sure word, and even our pains and doubts cannot block it out.

Amen

[Given at King's Cross, Reformation Sunday, Oct. 30th, A.D. 2022]

Terrify Us Into Faith

Habakkuk I.5 “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.”

Lord, we confess that we are a small-minded people, and cannot see very far ahead. When we look into the mysterious mirror of Providence, we often hope for prosperity, ease, and smooth peacefulness. In this we show our weakness, for these things are often hazardous to our reflection of the image of Christ. So you in your mercy send us Chaldeans, as Habakkuk wrote long ago—pains and trials and enemies that we do not believe when we hear of them. So we are terrified: for their pangs are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; our foes press proudly on in every headline and news story. Our smug confidence is shaken when they come from afar and dive upon us like an eagle swift to devour. May all this violence terrify us not into doubt, but into faith.

We pray first about the troop of pains and illnesses that march against us. Guard Libby Jackson in her knee surgery this week, and Elodie Nieuwsma, Reign Wright, and Scott Spuler as they recover from surgery. There are many sick, pained, and weary in our company—guard them all from despair and unbelief, and grant them deliverance.

We pray for the host of men who march against us. Whether they be those who oppose us locally or our brothers far away in places like North Korea, Russia, the Ivory Coast, and China, rebuke our enemies and humble them. Help us not to take such confrontation personally, as we so often do, but to receive their taunts as from the Lord—let it drive us to love.

We pray for those among the perils of the world—the college students in their summer wanderings, all those coming to Moscow for the Called Conference, those under church discipline. Guard them all and bring them back home safely.

We ask all this—and we do not ask it in vain, for it is a small thing for you to control even great and powerful Babylon so long ago. Turn our fear to you, and let us truly reflect you in our name and deeds. Amen.

(King's Cross Prayer of Petition, 7/10/22)

Our House of Defense

Ps 31:1-3-- To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me.

Lord, as we bring our petitions before you, help us to remember that you are our Rock, our House of Defense, our King. We are a brash and egalitarian people, and we often forget that a king must grant only the petitions of his people that truly benefit his whole kingdom, and not merely the pleas of favorites. And your kingdom stretches over all earth and time in many hidden ways. So our first request is that we not be arrogant and presumptuous in our requests.

Next we pray for wisdom for those who govern under you: for Jared Longshore as he undergoes ordination exams, for our presbytery as they consider launching King’s Cross, for honest men of God to step forward into eldership, for the Greyfriars students in their studies. Nor do we leave out the civil realm, for it is also under your hand: we request justice in the Wilson court case, in Dobbs vs Jackson, and in the office of President Biden and those around him. You have promised to deliver us from our enemies. Bow down your ear and hear.

You have considered our trouble and known our souls in adversity, so we request comfort, aid, and healing to our many sick and wounded. The curse consumes us all in time, and this is a terrible evil, but some feel its jaws swiftly and keenly. We ask you especially for those whose suffering is long, or without hope, for our bodies are weak and tempt us to doubt your goodness. Guard them and grant them healing and peace.

Your goodness is great and laid up for those that fear. Therefore we request peace for the God-fearers in difficult circumstances: our brothers in Eastern Europe, the singles and widows of our congregation, and all those you are testing. We ask that you grant them good courage and strength of heart. Show us your marvelous kindness, for we  hope in the Lord, our covenant head, our king, and our Deliverer. 

Amen.

 (Delivered at CCD 03/27/22)

The Prayer of the Righteous

 

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.