Prayers from Sunday, May 1, 2016

Heavenly Father,
First and foremost, we come to you with open hearts.  We thank you for this beautiful morning and a wonderful choir that helps us to worship and praise your holy name.  We give you thinks for how you love us unconditionally.  You take what is broken inside our souls and you make it new in each and every one of us.  We thank you for your forgiveness when we disobey you and when we stubbornly do not keep your commandments.  Thank you Jesus for deeming us worthy of love by dying on the cross to pay for our sins.  We are not worthy, not even a little, but you willingly loved us so much that you paid loves ransom so that we may have an everlasting life together in your family.  We can't praise you enough.  We owe you all love and adoration as your name is worthy of our praise.  Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit that guides each of us daily to help us make choices that honor your will and give you glory.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord, we lift up prayers for those nearest to us, our family, our neighbors, our coworkers, that we may be encouragers and extend love and grace to them just as you extend to us even when that may be difficult to do.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those who point us in the right direction in our lives: those such as teachers, our pastors and deacons, our mentors, our small group members and our veterans.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our rulers, those who govern our country.  With your blessing Father, let America be a beacon of light and a bastion of hope for our world.  Impart into our nation's leaders the unquenchable thirst for virtue as we lift up the 2016 election.  We pray that truth will be brought into light as we near the voting process.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray especially, Father, for those who are without hope in their lives today.  We pray for those with health issues both physically and mentally; we pray for those in broken relationships, those battling addiction, all the homeless here in Stockton and around the world; all your people who hunger and thirst not only for food but for spiritual food and for those who have not heard of your everlasting love yet.  Use us, your people, to be beacons of light in a dark world and give us courage to set ourselves aside and use the gifts and talents you have blessed us with, so that we may be ready to do so when opportunities arise to share the gospel with those in need.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Finally Lord, be with our brothers and sisters around the world as they seek to share your hope, grace, and salvation with the many people groups. We especially lift up Ecuador as they suffer and recover from a major earthquake.  The needs will definitely be mighty for the mission team from the Sending Place going in June.  Thank you father that you are the Almighty and you hear every prayer both BIG and SMALL.  All these prayers and petitions we humbly ask, your will and not ours.  We pray in your Son's precious name, and all God's people said, Amen.