Weekly Prayer Devotional

Praise

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in
trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and
the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Selah) There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.  God is within her, she will not
fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Selah)  Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of
Jacob is our fortress. (Selah) Psalm 46

Lament

We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of
healing but there was only terror.   The snorting of the enemy's horses is heard from Dan; at the neighing of their stallions the whole land trembles. They have come to devour the land and everything in it, the city and all who live there."

Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a
fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people.  Jeremiah 8:15-16; 9:1

Lord, like Jeremiah we lament the calamities in our world. We bring before you the pain and brokenness of our world. We see violence, injustice, and suffering, and our hearts grieve. We confess our fears, our anxieties, and the ways we feel overwhelmed by what we see around us. Lord, hear the cries of your people. Do not turn away from those who suffer, but draw near with your compassion and healing. Amen.

Prayers for Our World

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,  for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all-- this was attested at the right time. 1 Timothy 2:1-6

What Frank Laubach said in 1946 is still relevant today: “Millions
of us ordinary people must pour an incessant white light of prayer upon our world leaders, day after day. We must lift the heads of those leaders toward God so that they will hear Him and will obey His will.”

Take time now to pray for the leaders in our world (even
those leaders we don’t agree with or like).

Hope

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.” — Psalm 42:11

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33