Monday, August 12, 2024

Sunday (August 11) Pastoral Prayer

August 11, 2024
Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

O God, still our souls and as our prayer hymn says, remind us that in every change, your faithfulness will remain. You know how hard it is for us to face the many changes in our lives. Some of those changes are out of our control and others are the result of our own sinfulness in which we are now facing the consequences.

 

And yet, O God your faithfulness will remain. Your faithfulness to see us through those changes, your faithfulness to help us learn from our mistakes, your faithfulness to guide us into new seasons of our lives.

 

And so, we thank you for these complicated and even tragic stories that we find in the Bible like the one we have focused on today about David and his son, Absalom. These stories remind us that there is always hope and new life available to us when we allow you to lead us through life’s many twists and turns.

 

Today, we especially pray for those who are facing significant changes in their lives, a change in their health condition, a change in their employment, a change in their relationships, a change due to the loss of a loved one, a change of address. Remind them as you have reminded us this morning that you are on their side and to leave to you to order and provide.

 

Lead us to be there for people as they go through these times of change whether it be sharing an encouraging word, lifting them in prayer, or just being there to listen.

 

Still our souls, O God and remind us that with you, there is always the opportunity to receive your forgiving and redeeming love. It is never too late to turn to you, even when we have turned our backs on you. Like David from our scripture reading, may we always seek to be people after your own heart.

 

We pray this in the name of Jesus who reminded us to still our souls by praying this prayer that he taught us to say… 


Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

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