Prayer For The Whole Human Family
Sunday August 23, 2020
Today we want to borrow some prayers again as we think about various groups in society that are a bit more on the edges. I don’t think we’ve prayed for the armed forces that are seeking to make and maintain peace around the world so we’ll do that today. We’ll pray for those who are in prisons, for those who struggle with addiction, for the oppressed, for the aged, and then we’ll gather our prayers with one for the whole human family. Let’s use these moment to bless as many people as we can with the love and goodness of our Heavenly Father.
For those in the Armed Forces of our Country
Almighty God, we commend
to your gracious care and
keeping all the men and women
of our armed forces at home
and abroad. Defend them day
by day with your heavenly
grace; strengthen them in their
trials and temptations; give
them courage to face the perils
which beset them; and grant
them a sense of your abiding
presence wherever they may be;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
For Peace Among the Nations
Almighty God our Heavenly
Father, guide the nations of the
world into the way of justice
and truth, and establish among
them that peace which is the
fruit of righteousness, that they
may become the kingdom of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
For Prisons and Correctional Institutions
Lord Jesus, for our sake you
were condemned as a criminal:
Visit our jails and prisons with y
our pity and judgment.
Remember all prisoners, and bring
the guilty to repentance
and amendment of life according
to your will, and give them
hope for their future. When any
are held unjustly, bring them
release; forgive us, and teach us
to improve our justice.
Remember those who work in
these institutions; keep them
humane and compassionate;
and save them from becoming
brutal or callous. And since what
we do for those in prison,
O Lord, we do for you, constrain
us to improve their lot. All
this we ask for your mercy's sake.
Amen.
For the Victims of Addiction
O blessed Lord, you ministered
to all who came to you: Look
with compassion upon all who
through addiction have lost
their health and freedom. Restore
to them the assurance of
your unfailing mercy; remove
from them the fears that beset
them; strengthen them in the
work of their recovery; and to
those who care for them, give
patient understanding and
persevering love. Amen.
For the Oppressed
Look with pity, O heavenly Father,
upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror,
disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have
mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our
neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing
equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all.
And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of
the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
For the Aged
Look with mercy, O God our
Father, on all whose increasing
years bring them weakness, distress,
or isolation. Provide for
them homes of dignity and peace;
give them understanding
helpers, and the willingness to
accept help; and, as their
strength diminishes, increase
their faith and their assurance
of your love. This we ask in the
name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
For the Human Family
O God, you made us in
your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look
with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the
arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down
the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love;
and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your
purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and
races may serve you in
harmony around your
heavenly throne; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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