A Prayer To Receive Compassion and Strength From Our Loving God

 As I prepare for these moments together, sometimes I have a thought and I look for what the Bible has to say on that theme and then we pray about that.  At other times I read something in God's Word and it touches my heart and a prayer of response is just naturally there.

I had that kind of response to some verses that were put together in a little devotional that is part of my daily reading in the mornings.  Familiar words to me, all of them, but having them side by side was lovely and encouraging. 

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23

Well Loving God, what hope these words settle in our hearts when the news around the world shows the Covid-19 virus consuming so much attention and tragically, so many lives of people at all ages.  In the middle of this we hang onto Your promise that in this day we can experience Your compassion that is new for us today.  You are faithful to be with us and care for us no matter how difficult the challenges are around us. 

We pray today for those who do feel consumed by grief or worry or troubles that seem to be on every side.  Comfort them with Your love.  Lift them up so their experience of Your goodness pushes the challenges of the day to the sidelines.  We dare to pray these words based on Your own words:

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:28-31

We lean into Your strength today for ourselves, our loved ones, and those who struggle today.  Pour out Your strength on all of us and fill the weak and weary with hope and energy to seek Your heart and follow Your guidance so they can get through today and build on Your good work in their lives. 

For those who stumble in thought, word, or deed, we pray that You will help them to look up to You for cleansing, renewing, and steadying. Help them to move their thoughts from despair and anger to trust and goodness. When they feel like giving up fill their hearts with Your love that perseveres through the toughest challenges.  And as we learn to rely on Your love in all our times we respond to Your comforting words that show us a pathway to peace.

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:5-7

Help us Lord to let go of all that keeps us from being gentle trusting people who know that You are near  We hand over all those things that make us anxious and worried, troubles and tense, sad and depleted.  Come, Spirit of God, and be with us in this moment, in this day.  Fill us with Yourself, Your peace that transcends all understanding.  Guard our hearts and minds as we remember our example, Jesus, who went through the deepest dark time but in Your plan came out the other side with so much more for all of us than we could ever have dreamed of. 

Give us the mind and will now to turn our thoughts to the many ways You have been good to us, even during the challenges of this time of the pandemic, even in the face of the difficulties of this day.  Remind us of the good we saw today and fill our hearts with Your generosity and faithful presence.  And so we speak to our soul,

Return to your rest, my soul,  for the Lord has been good to you.  Psalm 116:7

Well without minimizing the pain you are facing right now, our great hope today is that God has been and will continue to be good to us.  Nothing can separate us from His love today.  Let’s live in that joy and settledness today.