A Sunday Prayer, December 29, 2024

Most Wise and Eternal Father,

We come to you with joy in our hearts this morning, because You have given us another opportunity to say, “thank you”.  Thank you, Father, for Your grace.  Thank You for Your unmerited favor, Lord.  You are the sovereign and mighty creator of all things.  You are the One true and living God, and we thank You for not only listening to our prayers, but encouraging us to pray to You continually.   You are our rock and our shield, Father God.  You are our provider and our protector.  Everything that we have comes from You, and there is no greater giver than You.  You have given us the greatest gift of all – forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Your only begotten Son.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for taking on the punishment that we deserved for our disobedience to the Word and will of God.  Thank You for conquering death, and for now being seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding on behalf of the saints. We thank You for sending the Comforter to reside in us and to serve as the guarantee of our redemption.

Lord God, we humbly ask that you continue to bless the body of Christ, and that You give us the strength to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus.  Help us, Lord, by Your Word and by Your Spirit, to walk in humility and grace, and to share the Good News with the unbelieving world.  Help us to encourage one another in the faith.  Please continue to be patient and compassionate with unbelievers, Lord, and to use us as instruments of Your peace and reconciliation. 

We humbly pray that You, Lord, the God of endurance and encouragement, help us to live in harmony with one another, in accord with Jesus Christ, so that together we may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.