I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.

Help me to pray

And to concentrate my thoughts on you;

I cannot do this alone.

In me there is darkness,

But with you there is light;

I am lonely, but you do not leave me;

I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;

I am restless, but with you there is peace.

In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;

I do not understand your ways,

But you know the way for me….

Restore me to liberty,

And enable me to live now

That I may answer before you and before men.

Lord whatever this day may bring,

Your name be praised. Amen

A PRAYER BY DIETRICH BONHOEFFER

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fix our hearts

Almighty God,

you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners:

Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise;

that, among the swift and varied changes of the world,
our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
now and for ever.

Amen.

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when we feel lost

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to grow old gracefully

Dear Lord,

May Christ keep me ever young "to the greater glory of God."
For old age comes from Him, old age leads to Him,
and old age will touch me only insofar as He wills.
To be "young" means to be hopeful, energetic, smiling---and clear-sighted.

May I accept aging in whatever guise it may come to me in Christ,
that is, within the process of the development of life.
A smile---inward and outward---means facing with mildness
and gentleness whatever befalls me.

Jesus, grant me to serve You, to proclaim You, to glorify You,
and to manifest You, to the very end through all the time
that remains to me of life, and above all through my death.

Lord Jesus, I commit to your care my last years, and my death; do not let them impair or spoil the work I have so dreamed of achieving for You.

Amen.

- Author Unknown

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as we persevere

Dear Lord,

I will remain restless, tense, and dissatisfied until I can be totally at peace in your house. But I am still on the road, still journeying, still tired and weary, and still wondering if I will ever make it to the city on the hill.

With Vincent van Gogh, I keep asking your angel, whom I meet on the road: “Does the road go uphill then all the way?” And the answer is: “Yes, to the very end.” And I ask again: “And will the journey take all day long?” And the answer is: “From morning till night, my friend.”

So I go on, Lord, tired, often frustrated, irritated, but always hopeful to reach one day the eternal city far away, resplendent in the evening sun.

There is no certainty that my life will be any easier in the years ahead, or that my heart will be any calmer. But there is the certainty that you are waiting for me and will welcome me home when I have persevered in my long journey to your house.

O Lord, give me courage, hope, and confidence.

Amen.

- Henri Nouwen

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prayer for spiritual growth

I am convinced that growth in Christ is a lifelong process. I am also convinced this can only happen through the power of God working in us.

Father,

I thank you that You are at work in Your people to change us. Help us to look to You for that power. Help us not to trust in our will power or ability, but to trust in You. For it is only You that really change me. Help me to get out of the way so You can work, Your work in me.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

-Mike Erich, The Mad Theologian

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Abide in me

Abide in me

Hold thou thy cross

before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom,

and point me to the skies;

Heaven’s morning breaks,

and earth’s vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord,

abide with me.

Henry Francis Lyte

*Note: from the hymn "Abide in me" which is a prayer to God to be with him through both his life, sand his impending death. It is often sung to the tune "Eventide"

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True longing

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to be vessels of divine life

Father of all Life and Love,

We come to you today asking for mercy and grace.

Open the eyes of our inner selves that we might see.

Cause our hearts and minds to be open to your gifts.

That we might flow in the river of eternal life.

Bless us with the courage to act on our inner passions.

Come Holy Spirit and lead us in your ways.

Help us to be vessels of your life and light.

That we might proclaim your love to the world.

In the name of Jesus we say amen.

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as we begin again

Dearest Father,

Today is a new day and a new start.

Help me to press into it with faith.

Remind me of how you have helped me in times past.

Teach me not to dwell on my mistakes but on your promises.

Give me wisdom as I travel this new path.

Thank you for being with me with each step I take.

Bless me as I begin again.

Let faith arise in me and proceed from me.

I dedicate myself to you afresh.

Amen.

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grant us a life of true peace

O God! O our Master

You are eternal life and everlasting peace by Your essence and attributes.

The everlasting peace is from You and it returns to you.

O our Sustainer!

Grant us a life of true peace and usher us into the abode of peace.

O Glorious and Bounteous One!

You are blessed and sublime.

Amen.

- Author Unknown

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as we yield and submit

Dear God,

We say amen to this prayer that Patrick once offered.

We need your instruction, protection, direction and defense.

We offer to you our lives to you and yield to your Spirit.

We submit to your will and your leading in our lives.

We ask you to live in and through us today.

Amen.

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Ears but do not hear

Ears but do not hear

The idols have ears but do not hear …

so unlike you, for all your hearing …

so like us, ears but do not hear.

You have endlessly summoned us: shema,

listen,

listen up,

pay attention,

heed,

obey,

turn …

We mostly do not … in our narcissism,

in our recalcitrance,

in our departure from you.

So we pray for ears, open, unwaxed,

attentive, circumcised.

Call us by name … so that we know,

Call us to you … so that we live,

Call us into the world … so that we care,

Call us to risk … so that we trust

beyond ourselves.

You speak / we listen / and comes life,

abundant,

beyond all that we ask or think …

Our ears to hear your word of life.

Amen.

* A prayer based on reading Jeremiah 10:1–16.

Walter Brueggemann, (2003). Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann (E. Searcy, Ed.;(. Fortress Press.

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new mercies

Dear Father God,

Thank You for the new mercies that I experience each day.

Teach me to be a vessel and conduit of your divine spirit.

Praise you for new strength that you give each morning.

Help me to use that strength to bless others today.

I am in awe of the way that you have forgiven me.

By your grace, cause me to be a reconciler and a healer.

May your name be glorified in all I say and do today.

Amen

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give me a taste for service

Dear God,

I know you are out there,
waiting to break my heart open
through service to your people.

Show me how to find you in them,
to open my heart and hands to feel and to touch,
to laugh and to cry with your chosen ones, the poor,
who carry with them direct pathways to your loving heart.

Give me a taste for service
so that I too might desire more
and more.

- Author Unknown

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a prayer of release

Dear Heavenly Father,

I release to You the burdens that I have been carrying, burdens that You never intended for me to carry.

I cast all my cares upon You–all my worries, all my fears.

You have told me not to be anxious about anything, but rather to bring everything to You in prayer with thankfulness.

Father, calm my restless spirit, quiet my anxious heart, still my troubling thoughts with the assurance that You are in control.

I let go of my grip upon the things I have been hanging onto, with opened hands I come to You.

I release to Your will all that I am trying to manipulate;

I release to Your authority all that I am trying to control;

I release to Your timing all that I have been striving to make happen.

I thank You for Your promise to sustain me, preserve me, and guard all that I have entrusted to Your keeping.

Protect my heart and mind with Your peace, the peace that passes all understanding.

Father, may Your will be done in my life, in Your time, and in Your way.

Amen

-St Therese

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finding rest

Dear Lord

Bless me that I might find rest in all that I do.

Teach me to prioritize the things that bring me inner peace.

Give me grace to take care of my heart and my body.

Help me to release control and trust you with all of me.

Let this day be one where I find stillness and rest.

I love you Lord.

Amen.

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We are ready to listen

Healing, sovereign God,

overmatch our resistant ears

with your transforming speech.

Penetrate our jadedness and fatigue.

Touch our yearnings by your words.

Through your out-loudness, draw us closer to you.

We are ready to listen.

Amen.

Walter Brueggemann, (2003). Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann (E. Searcy, Ed.;). Fortress Press.

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answer us

Answer us when we call,

O God...

you set us free when we are hard-pressed;

have mercy on us and hear our prayers.

Open our lips and

our mouths shall praise:

Glory to you

for the radiance of your holy Name;

we will praise you

and highly exalt you for ever.

In the tender compassion of our God,

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Amen.

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prayer for joy in hard times

Sometimes life seems hard Lord.
Turn my heart away from the hardness.

Often the struggles overwhelm and defeat me.
Cause me to look up and behold your face.

The burden of my trials are weighing me down.
Bring joy into my life and help me to be happy.

I lift my heart and my hands to you Lord.
Fill me afresh with your spirit.

With love, I pray in Jesus name.
Amen and amen.

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help us be a beacon of hope

Father,

I thank you that in Your Son we have hope.

Hope that this life is not the end.

Hope that death has been conquered.

Hope of eternal life together with You.

Hope of Your presence now in our lives.

Help us who are Your people remember that hope.

Help us take it to a hopeless world, which so desperately needs it.

Help us be a beacon of hope to those in trouble or anguish.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

-Mike Erich, The Mad Theologian

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strengthen my faith and trust in you

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled.
My Lord, fill it.

I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.

I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent,
that my love may go out to my neighbor.

I do not have a strong and firm faith;
at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.
O Lord, help me.

Strengthen my faith and trust in you.

In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.

I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.

I am a sinner; you are upright.

With me, there is an abundance of sin;
in you is the fullness of righteousness.

Therefore I will will remain with you, of whom I can receive,
but to whom I may not give.

Amen.

- Martin Luther

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help me to stop trying to outrun my pain

Lord,

I am weary and don’t know when this “race” will end in my life. I feel like I’ve been running forever, trying to outrun this trial. Help me to stop trying to outrun my pain but rather run with endurance the race you have set before me.

I know that because of you I am ultimately a victor over the trials in my life. I know that nothing in this world can separate me from your steadfast love.

Please give me a measure of your love today; give me the strength to endure this trial. Thank you for your love for me that never ends! And thank you for the crown of joy that awaits me forever in your Kingdom!

Amen.

— Adrian Rogers

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Fighting the daily fight

Dear God, it is so hard for us to fight against ourselves. 

It is very difficult to overcome an enemy that lies so close and hidden within us as our flesh does. And unless you arm me with divine power, I am in great danger of yielding to this treacherous foe. 

Help me die to myself daily, I beg you. Do not let me be eternally separated by the attractions of the flesh from the life that is in Christ my savior. 

Preserve me this day in your fear and favor, and in the end bring me to your everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 

— Robert Parker

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Passion for Jesus

This man.

Fell on his face sobbing at the glory of God…

He had just finished praying with such humility. Such passion. Such love for His God…

He arose from his kneeling position and then just fell to the altar in a beautiful display of adoration to the LORD.

Let’s pray for a PASSION like this!

Let’s pray for an enlightening in our spirits for the BEAUTY of who God is!!!

Oh let’s be willing to bow down and simply WORSHIP the Creator with all that is within us…

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Help us, O God, to welcome each day with thanksgiving. We welcome this day because we know our breathing in and out today is for Your purposes. You have called us to fulfill Your will, and may we approach this day with humility and submission to whatever You have for us.

Open our lips and our hearts to sing your praise, and fill us with your loving Spirit that we may go out this day to make peace, strive for justice, and bear compassion everywhere we are called and sent.

Amen.

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teach me to live from my heart

Change me, oh God. Transform my heart and make it new.

Lead me and open my heart that I might understand your ways.

Teach me how to live from my heart and not my head.

Help me to grow into the person you want me to be.

Nourish and strengthen my heart so that I might walk in your ways.

Cause my life to be a reflection of your heart and your love.

In your name I pray. Amen.

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invite us deeper ...

Almighty and ever living God,
you invite us deeper into your world, your people, your Lent.

May this time be one of outward focus;
seeking you in those we often ignore.

Help us live a Lent focused on freedom, generosity, and encounter.
Give us hearts hungry to serve you and those who need what we have to give.

- Author Unknown

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help me to be kind

God of All Mercies,

Help me to share sweet kindness and love wherever I go.

Like the Good Samaritan, open my eyes to the wounded.

Like the Father, inspire me to run to the prodigal child.

When I am tempted to judge, help me to see with your eyes.

When I want to hate, lead me in the ways of love.

Help me to be kind and friendly today.

In grace, I pray in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

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a prayer of identity

Dear Father in Heaven,

I open my heart, that I might know who I am in you.

Like a heavenly mirror, help me to see myself clearly.

Bring forth my inner spirit, and I will live from that place.

Teach me how to quiet myself, that I might hear your voice within.

Help me to know that I am yours, and you are mine.

In all my ways, cause me to be a reflection of your love and grace.

In Christ's name, Amen.

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Teach me the art of praise

Oh Lord, teach us this very morning the art of praise. Let our soul take fire, and like a censor full of frankincense, may our whole nature send forth a delicious perfume of praiseful gratitude unto the ever-blessed One, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. 

—Charles Spurgeon

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a prayer for renewal

O God

who before the passion

of your only-begotten Son

revealed his glory upon the holy mountain:

Grant us to behold by faith his radiance

be strengthened to bear our cross

and be changed into his likeness

from glory to glory; through Christ Jesus.

I call with my whole heart;

answer me, O God,

that I may keep your statutes.

I call to you;

oh, that you would save me!

I will keep your decrees.

Early in the morning I cry out to you,

for in your word is my trust.

Open our lips,

kindle our hearts,

stir our souls— that we may sing thy praise!

Renew us in Spirit that we may grow in service to bear fruits of a lively faith as we care for neighbors witness for truth work for justice strive for peace and live for love.

Amen.

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that we might meet needs

Father of All Abundance,

We repent and ask forgiveness for our lust and greed.

We kneel asking for a zeal for your kingdom and your love.

Help us to not hoard what you have give to us.

Bless our minds to be open to meeting the needs of all.

Give us grace that we might be givers and not only receivers.

We commit ourselves to your will and your purposes.

Amen.

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for people that have rare diseases

Rare Disease Day is February 28th. I am particularly interested in this day because my wife Ann has a rare disease called Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO). I invite you to pray with me for Ann and anyone who has a rare disease.

Our trust is in you Lord. Our confession is that nothing is too difficult for you.

We ask for those who suffer from a rare disease. We pray for their healing and for their comfort. We pray that others will bring encouragement and support.

We also ask that wisdom be given to those who research rare diseases and seek medical solutions. And we pray that understanding be given to doctors and nurses who diagnose rare diseases.

We praise you and lift up your name. You teach us to praise you in all things. So until these rare diseases are cured we will continue to lift up your name.

Amen

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a prayer for self-care

Lord, lift me up and bring your blessings today.

I pray that you will anoint me with strength and self care.

I pray that You will grace me with patience and wisdom.

I pray that You will encourage me throughout the day.

I pray that you will help me to take steps to walk with humility.

I pray that you will shine through me right where I am.

I pray all of these things in Your name. Amen.

— Author Unknown

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a prayer to keep trying

Dearest Father,

I am tired and discouraged.
I ask you for encouragement today.

I am tempted to give up
I ask for the stamina to endure.

I am weak and disheartened.
I ask you for strength of heart and purpose.

I am blessed and thankful for your presence in my life.
I ask you to help me remember that you are here.

I am hopeful because you are my friend.
I ask you to help me to keep trying.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Preserve me through this day

Lord God, you know I need to call on you for my daily bread. But how much more reason I have to crave the graces of your Holy Spirit—for supplying my soul with heavenly food, and especially with saving faith.

When I am tossed about with the storms of doubts and fears, show me how to lay hold of your word and promises. Then all the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil will never prevail over me, since I know in whom I have believed. 

Increase the light of my faith, that it may daily cast forth more clear beams. Preserve that faith in the darkness of death, that it may guide me to eternal life. 

And rule and govern me by your Holy Spirit, that I may never lose faith by agreeing to do anything that is against the light of my conscience. 

Confirm the good work you have begun in me, strengthen me inwardly, and preserve me blameless until the day of the Lord Jesus Christ, that I may inherit eternal life. Amen. 

— Robert Parker

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What a privilege

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a prayer for community

Father,

When this world is constantly telling us that we should live our lives on our own, to "pull ourselves up by our bootstraps" and work through it, Your word reminds us of how we are meant to carry one another's burdens and to walk through this world with others, and not by ourselves.

You have created us for community, to belong... you have given us a longing for being part of something. And yet we often feel like we are a burden to others when we ask for help.

Lord, we repent of our stubborn tendency to not consult You when we need guidance. We repent of not trusting You and trusting others with our burdens. Show us the blessing of bearing one another's hurt and pain. And show us the joy of allowing others to walk alongside us in our hurt and pain, so that we might lift each other up.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4-5)

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

†

Amen

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when we are at the limits of our power

O Lord, we are at the limits of our power.

For what we have left undone, forgive us.

For what you have helped us to do, we thank you.

For what must be done, lend your strength to us in our weakness.

Now shelter us in your peace which passes our understanding.

Amen.

— adapted from an Episcopal prayer

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a prayer to transform our pain

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint.

Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.

I am in excruciating pain, but I choose to turn to You.

I know that only You can heal and transform me.

Only You can ease the pain that I feel.

Bring others into my life to help me heal.

Give me the humility and vulnerability I need to hear.

I thank You for Your mercy and for your grace.

I praise You for Your divine healing power.

For without it, I would not be able to transform my pain.

Amen.

- an adaptation from Psalm 6

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prayer to be filled

Behold Lord,

An empty vessel that needs to be filled.

My Lord, fill it.

I am weak in faith; strengthen me.

I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent.

Let my love go out to my neighbor and beyond.

I do not have a strong and firm faith.

At times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.

O Lord, help me to believe and trust you.

Strengthen my faith and trust in you.

For in you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.

I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.

I am a sinner; you are upright.

With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness.

Therefore I will remain with you and serve you.

Amen.

-adapted from a prayer by Martin Luther

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leaning into grace

Lord Jesus,

We pray today that you shower us with your mercy and grace so that we may remain in you and you in us.

Through your mercy and grace may we become vessels through which our families, friends and neighbors might know, love, serve, praise and glorify you.

May our actions and words be a manifestation of your mercy and grace.

May your mercy and grace flow from you to us, from us to those nearby and then to rest of the people in the world.

Amen.

- adapted from a Catholic prayer

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A prayer as we awake

O Lord our God and heavenly Father! We, your unworthy children, come into your most holy and heavenly presence to give you praise and glory for your great mercies and blessings—especially that you have preserved us this night past and have given us quiet rest to our bodies, and brought us now safely to the beginning of this day. 

Lord, open our eyes every day more and more to see and consider your great and marvelous love to us, that our hearts may be drawn yet nearer to you—even more to love you, fear you, and obey you. 

Nail all our sins and iniquities to the cross of Christ, and let them never rise up in judgment against us. Let us live holy, just, and sober lives, shining as lights in this present evil world. Fill us with your Spirit. Stir us to prayer and watchfulness. 

Have mercy on us, and never leave us to ourselves, nor to our own wills, lusts, or desires. Help us with your good Spirit, that we may continue to the end, received into glory, and partake of that immortal crown you have laid up for all who love you. Amen. 

—Arthur Dent

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Open our eyes

In John 9, after Jesus opened the eyes of the blind man, his words were so powerful!

“One thing I know: I was blind but now I see!”

Oh, may those words be uttered from each of our hearts and mouths today!

May our prayer be for God to continue to open our eyes t TRUTH. To His WORD. May our eyes be opened to truly see the wonder of who He is!

Today, I pray that we all seek Him with renewed fervor and a desperate desire for our eyes to be continually opened to the POWER and the MERCY and the beautiful GRACE of our God…

Open our eyes that we may see!!

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a prayer for protection

Lord,

Our hearts are with the people of Turkey and Syria as they continue to deal with the devastation of earthquakes and aftershocks. We struggle to understand the pain this already torn-apart area has to deal with right now.

So Lord, please protect the responders in this time. The policeman, the fireman, the military, the aide workers, the EMTs, doctors, and nurses and all others who are valiantly digging through rubble to save each precious life. Give them strength and perseverance, both of body and of mind and heart. May they feel your presence in moments of despair, and experience comfort where there seems to be no comfort.

Lord, for those who are still waiting to be rescued, send those quickly to help. Provide the sustenance they need, the rescue they require, and the comfort they long for.

Lord, for those injured and fighting to survive, we pray for their fight to grow stronger. We pray for those caring for them - give them guidance and wisdom to heal.

Lord, for those grieving the losses they know about and those who are fearful for those they aren't sure they have lost, be a refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Hear their calls, Lord.

But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your Name may rejoice in You. Surely, Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11-12 )

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