Psalm 78
August 1, 2021
Heavenly Father, You are God Most High. Thank You for also being our Rock and our Redeemer. You are incredibly patient with us in our failings. We are humbled to stand in a whole line of generations who have seen Your good works on our behalf. We have heard the stories of Your provision and protection of Your people in ancient times. And we have seen them in our own lives. Help us to not forget Your deeds but that as we remember and celebrate them, our trust in Your faithfulness would grow. We pray that we would be faithful to tell these stories to the next generation, that they in turn would tell their children, that for generations to come Your power and love would be proclaimed.
Oh Lord, we recognize that like those who have gone before us, we are prone to be stubborn and rebellious, proud and forgetful. Our hearts are not bent to be loyal and faithful but fickle and self-centered. We more quickly trust our own feelings than Your commands. We pray to You for the things we crave, but when You give them, rather than worship You, we turn our gaze to something else. Forgive us, Lord. By Your mercy make us into a people who trust Your heart and follow Your Word.
We pray this morning for those who are struggling to see Your goodness, those whose desires seem unsatisfied and needs feel unmet and who are looking for signs of Your care and provision. I pray that in our struggles You would meet us and that we would know Your love. Help us to be compassionate with the hurting, generous with the needy, gentle with the rebellious, and loving toward all—because all of us at some time have been all of these, and that is how You treated us.
This morning we want to lift up our sister churches throughout the North Central District as we work together to reach our communities with Your gospel. We pray that as we all work to regroup from COVID restrictions, that You would draw many more people to You through Your church. We pray for resilience and fresh vision for church leaders, as well as for those who care for them at the district and national level, that they would shepherd well those who are among them.
And we continue to pray for Your hand in our pastoral search, that in Your wisdom and care You would bring us a man who will be a good fit for the church that we are and a wise leader as You make us into the church You want us to be.
We pray this in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and all God’s people said, Amen.