PRAYERS FOR ONE ANOTHER ON THIS THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

Here we are in Week 3 of Lent – moving towards the middle of our time of preparing our hearts to appreciate the wonder of the sacrifice of Jesus and His amazing resurrection from the dead, demonstrating the power of God’s love over all evil and death. 

We ask God to bring us close to Him again and deepen a spirit of humility and repentance in us so we are willing to be drawn close.

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Hebrews 10:22

Our good and loving God, throughout all time you have persevered in claiming and reclaiming your people. Jesus, You embraced the power of death and broke its hold over all people. We ask You now to draw all of us to yourself, that we who confess Jesus as Lord may put aside the deeds of death and accept the life of your kingdom. Renew for us your call to repentance, surround us with witnesses to aid us in our journey, and grant us the time to fashion our lives anew, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

We are to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and love our neighbours as ourselves.  It’s not so easy to do that with the pressures of daily life and so we ask for God’s help to love our neighbour.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.   Matthew 22:37-39

God of infinite love, we thank you for this reminder of your love and your call that we be more patient, gentle and compassionate with others. Help us to let go of judging others. Increase, O God, the spirit of neighborliness among us, that in peril we may uphold one another, in suffering tend to one another, and in homelessness, loneliness, or exile befriend one another. Grant us brave and enduring hearts that we may strengthen one another, until the disciplines and testing of these days are ended, and you again give peace in our time; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

And we continue to hear so many stories of those who struggle with depression and discouragement. Let’s lift them up to the Lord shall we:

O God, Your Word promises us that you heal the broken-hearted, and bind up their wounds.  Let your fatherly goodness be upon all whom you have made. Lift up those who are cast down. Befriend innocent sufferers, and help them as they endure the effects these unjust wrongs bring. Cheer with hope all who are discouraged and downcast.  Though they be troubled on every side, suffer them not to be distressed; though they are perplexed, save them from despair.  Amen.

We’ll conclude our prayers together today with a prayer of commitment to God of all we are in relationship with Him and in service in His Kingdom.

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.