Pentecost Sunday June 5, 2022
“Could you not keep watch with Me for one hour?” (Jesus) asked…”Watch and pray so that you will not fall…” Matthew 26:40-41
It feels as though our nation is spiraling out of control. While a heavy burden in my spirit has prompted me to re-issue this prayer call, the senseless killings all across our nation, highlighted by the tragedy in Uvalde, TX, seem to be visible evidence that we are in even more serious trouble then we were two years ago when I first asked you to pray with me.
The following prayer is one I will be using on Pentecost Sunday, on my knees, for one hour. I have revised and refreshed it for this year.
Thank you for joining me once again as together we pray…
Fairest Lord Jesus,
Ruler of all nature,
Lord of the nations…
We humbly bow before You and give You honor, praise and glory for the glimpse You have given us of Your blessing seeping through the broken shards of life left in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. In a nation of social, racial, and political division, You are bringing us together. In a nation swirling with hateful rhetoric, street violence, and rage, You have demonstrated through ordinary people the difference that caring compassion for others makes, regardless of who they are. In a nation that seems to pride itself on power, prosperity and self-sufficiency, You are drawing us to our knees.
@fortworthpd Aug 30 Off to #Houston to assist @houstonpolice with #HurricaneHarvey recovery.
Our tears continue to flow without end as we grieve over the human misery on the Gulf Coast—the sheer scope of devastation and loss is incomprehensible. Yet at the same time, hope is breaking through like the sun’s rays piercing through the black storm clouds! Our President has called for prayer! The Texas Governor has called for prayer! Can it be that our nation is waking up to our need of You? Could it be that the winds of a hurricane would begin to turn this Ship of State around? God of mercy, please let it be so!
On this day, September 3rd, which has been designated for prayer by President Trump and Governor Abbott, we humbly look to You. You are our God. You have said in Your Word that the nation whose God is the Lord is blessed.[1] So we boldly ask for…and claim…Your blessing on America. You have said in Your Word that if we don’t just give lip-service to confession of sin, but truly turn away from it and return to You, that You will return to us.[2] We turn. We return. We run to You! And beg You to return to us. You have said in Your Word that where Your Spirit is in authority, there is freedom.[3] So we give You authority over this nation and ask You to keep us free. You have said in Your Word that righteousness exalts a nation.[4] So we plead with You. Stir us up to desire what is best, true, right, and good. Expose wickedness and evil, lies and deception for what they are, then give us courage to remove them. Raise up righteousness and goodness, justice and truth so that they become our standard. You have said in Your Word that if anyone asks for wisdom, You will give it generously.[5] On behalf of our leaders, we plead for an outpouring of Your wisdom and a selfless desire to apply it as they work for the common good. You have said in Your Word that You are our Rock. Our Shield. Our Stronghold. Our Refuge.[6] As we look to You, we hide in You. During this time of turmoil and trouble, protect us from enemies within and without.
We now bring to You all those who today feel truly hopeless. Helpless. Be near to them. Whisper Your love to their hearts…Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.[7] Then grant them the peace that passes all understanding.[8] Peace that comes with the confidence that You see. You know. You understand. You care. You will help. Because You said so!
In the strong name of Heaven’s Rescuer…Jesus,
Amen
[1] Psalm 33:12
[2] Joel 2:12-14
[3] 2 Corinthians 3:17
[4] Proverbs 14:34
[5] James 1:5
[6] 2 Samuel 22:3
[7] Isaiah 41:10
[8] Philippians 4:7
Man of Sorrows,[1]
As I watch and read the news coverage coming out of the Gulf Coast, my anguish is deeper than words. My tears seem to flow in a torrent that matches the record rainfall. My spirit is crying out, “No. No! No!” How can this be? How can You allow Hurricane Harvey to sit over Texas? To slam into Louisiana? To ruin property and destroy lives? Why?
I will stand at my watch and look to see how You will answer me.[2] In the silence, I seem to hear Your soft whisper echoing what You have said to me at critical times before: when my son was diagnosed with life-threatening cancer. When I found my husband unresponsive in our pool. When unwanted, unplanned, unexpected, and unexplained crises have erupted, Your answer seems to be the same…Trust Me when you don’t understand.
As I reflect on the One whom I am asked to trust, my soul finds rest. You are my Great High Priest who understands.[3] You are well acquainted with grief.[4] Suffering. You understand by personal experience what it feels like to leave Home and be stripped of everything.[5] You, too, were homeless with nowhere to lay Your head.[6]
So please. Look on all those in the Gulf region who are now homeless, too. Stripped of everything. Please. Draw near to them. As they become more focused on the reality of their stark situation, I ask You to balance their feelings of devastation and loss with the comfort of Your presence. Your peace. Your love.
Thank You for every single one of the first responders…the professionals as well as friends and neighbors who are risking their own safety to help others. Give them supernatural strength. Energy. Stamina. And deep satisfaction as they receive the rich, priceless blessing of knowing their efforts are life-saving and life-changing.
O God, You have been our help in ages past. You are our hope for years to come. And You alone are our shelter from this stormy blast. Our refuge and our strength.[7] You are our Good Shepherd who will lead us safely through this Valley of the Shadow that has fallen over a weary land.[8]
So…wipe the tears from our eyes. Turn our faces to Yours. Cause us to choose to look up. To look to You. With trust.
In the name of the One who has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid…’”[9]
In the name of Jesus.
Amen
[1] Isaiah 53:3
[2] Habakkuk 2:1
[3] Hebrews 4:15
[4] Isaiah 53:3
[5] Philippians 2:5-8
[6] Matthew 8:20
[7] Psalm 46:1
[8] Psalm 23:4
[9] Hebrews 13:5-6
Awesome, omnipotent, Creator God.
We worship You as One…
who laid the earth’s foundations.
who marked off its dimensions,
who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,
who made the clouds its garment,
who fixed limits for it, and
who said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’.¹
We remember when You watched Your disciples struggling in the storm on Galilee, then walked across the water, climbed into their boat when they called out to You, and commanded the wind and waves to be still. And they obeyed!²
As Hurricane Harvey threatens the Gulf area, we are asking You to look on the residents of the Gulf area. We cry out to You on their behalf. We know that the wind and the waves still know Your voice. Command them to be still. Please. For the glory of Your great name.
Even now, we ask that You comfort those in the path of the storm; give wisdom to the local, state, and federal officials; encourage neighbors, friends, and families to meet this threat together. Grant them mercy. Save them. Keep Your promise, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”³
You are Immanuel. God with us. Facing this storm. Now.
We cling to You.
In the name of the One whom the waves and winds still obey…JESUS.
Amen
[1] Job 38:4-11
[2] Mark 4:35-41; 6:45-51
[3] Isaiah 43:2
Great, Perfect High Priest,[1]
We worship You as One who understands the feelings of our infirmities.[2] You are tender. Gentle. A bruised reed You will not break. A smoking flax You will not quench.[3]
You never grow tired or weary.[4]
We confess that sometimes we do feel weary. Breakable. Lonely as we stand for You and speak out for You when so few others do. You don’t blame us for our weariness and weakness. Instead, You sympathize with us.[5] Yet we remember You have said that You set the lonely in families.[6] So we thank You for Your family…brothers and sisters who stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart… as we continue to live for You in this increasingly dark, dangerous and hostile world.
As we meet here in prayer, dear Spirit of our Father God, use us to encourage each other. Build each other up. Strengthen each other. So that when we have done all we know to do… when the enemy comes in like a flood assaulting us from every side, on every level and from every angle…we still stand. With spirits battered, maybe. With hearts wounded, maybe. But with Sword raised in victory![7] We are still standing![8]
For the Glory of Your Great Name,
Amen
Please pray with us and post your prayer below in comments.
[1] Hebrews 4:14
[2] Hebrews 4:15
[3] Isaiah 42:3
[4] Isaiah 40:28
[5] Hebrews 4:15
[6] Psalm 68:6
[7] Ephesians 6:17
[8] Ephesians 6:13
