O God of mystery and wonder, thank you for being present with us during those times in our lives when we are lying down peacefully in green pastures soaking up the sun, as well as those dark times when we are wondering why it seems that you have forsaken us and are nowhere to be found. Thank you for your presence whether we are aware of it or not.
And thank you for loving us and being patient with us especially during those times when we doubt you the most and for giving us just enough light to catch glimpses of your presence in surprising and mysterious ways. If faith were easy, perhaps we wouldn’t have those special holy moments that are really what make life so beautiful and special.
As we survey our faith during this Season of Lent, help us to be prepared to laugh like Sarah and to ask questions like Nicodemus. In other words, help us to be real and genuine and not just settle for easy answers.
Which leads us even now to pray for your mysterious and holy healing, comforting, and guiding presence to be with those who are on our hearts and minds this day, the people on our prayer list, our friends and loved ones, as well as the many needs of our nation and world. We especially pray for our country and for people in the Middle East in these beginning days of our war with Iran. As one of our hymns of faith expresses so powerfully, “Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour, for the the facing of this hour.”
Somehow, someway, we know in this time of prayer that you are already offering the light and the hope that is needed for each of our prayer needs that we bring to you today. We admit that we don’t understand how all of this works, but we do know from Jesus that you so loved the world that you gave your only Son that whosoever should believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life. And we also know from Jesus that we have this prayer to help us express to you what we sometimes struggle to put into words. With whatever faith we have, we join together in praying…
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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