Prayer for Today – November 5

 

Be strong, and let your heart take courage,

all you who wait for the Lord.   

-Psalm 31:24

Be still my soul:  the Lord is on your side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain, leave to your God to order and provide;

In every change, God faithful will remain.

Your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake.

-Katharina von Schlegel

New every morning is your love, great God of light,

and all day long you are working for good in the world.

-from An Order for Morning Praise and Prayer UM Hymnal

 

God of this new day, we lift our hearts to you. The morning light has broken through the darkness of the night once again, and fresh possibilities and new beginnings await us. As the harvest sunrise demands our attention, sending its penetrating rays into our homes, it is impossible not to take notice. The wonders of your creation surround us and, in the changing of the seasons, we are reminded of your faithfulness throughout all generations.

Gentle and merciful God, you know how quickly we move from amazement and wonder to being overwhelmed by the worries of the day. We grow discouraged too easily, finding ourselves either immobilized by fear, or frantically rushing around, mindlessly latching onto quick fixes and easy solutions. Forgive our blindness to your presence. Free us from ourselves, Loving God, that we may fully experience the joy of life lived in relationship with you.

You know all the things that we face each day, the trials and hurts that are a part of living and loving. And, yet, you call us to a place of peace and calm in the midst of the storm, trusting that you never leave us alone. You ask us to wait patiently, leaning on your everlasting arms, and trusting in your infinite wisdom to direct our steps, all the time knowing that such a request is contrary to what the world would have us believe. Waiting is so much a part of our lives and often distracts us from the hope that is ours in Jesus Christ. We wait for test results, election results, job offers, anticipated promotions or raises, impending deaths for those in Hospice care, justice too long denied – the list is never-ending. Even still, your word to us remains constant –

Be strong, let your heart take courage, and wait.

And so, with the assurance of your great compassion, we place before you all that keeps us from abundant living, trusting that you hear our cries, comfort us in our need, and renew our strength:

• Thanksgiving for prayers: Wife at Mayo Clinic received good news yesterday
• Thankful for safe move of fragile mother to a new healthcare facility
• Grateful for prayers: Gum surgery went well
• Couple celebrate a husband’s successful heart surgery
• Cherished niece and husband celebrate birth of their 1st daughter yesterday
• Faithful member needs prayer for a lenient court ruling on November 9
• Relief for those suffering from economic setbacks due to virus
• Healing for teenage daughter, peace for her loving parents
• God’s healing for our divided nation, for calm following national election
• Relief from postpartum depression and young mother’s anxiety
• Please pray for church member in critical care, for her husband & family
• Safety and peace for elderly mother in hospice care, peace for her family
• Prayers for young grandson with autism, healing of his self-abuse
• Continued prayers, nephew in Missouri, seriously ill with Covid-19
• Stamina and protection for our healthcare workers in every locale
• Healing and guidance for family – husband ailing with very serious illness
• Strength for friend with metastatic cancer, wisdom for her physicians

Gracious God, may we be daily surprised by your creation, hourly startled by the depths of your love, and every moment amazed by your care. All these things we ask in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray: