Premeditated Prayer

I have the privilege of leading prayer in our little church one Sunday a month.  My evangelical church heritage is one that emphasizes spontaneity over preparation when it comes to congregational prayer.  But I am not wired that way.  I prefer to contemplate long and hard before speaking in public.  Scripture and church tradition are laden with written prayers.  So, in a break with a new tradition and in keeping with an old one, the following prayer was composed in hopes that it would express the heart of a congregation in public prayer without my hearing the prayer requests that would be vocalized on that Sunday; a prayer that would have to rely on the foreknowledge of God.

Congregational prayer - January 20, 2013

Our Father in heaven,

what a gift it is to call you father.

We come, not as subjects or slaves,

but as sons and daughters.

We are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;

but you have chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise,

and chosen the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

We thank you for our weakness, so we can experience your strength.

Keep us from trusting in the prosperity of our nation, or the skill of our hands,

but teach us instead to trust in your spirit.

Help us to bless our enemies,

for they drive us closer to you.

Be near to the broken-hearted and lonely.

Give them the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.

Make our marriages a reflection of Christ's love for the church.

Give us grace to forgive and grace to receive forgiveness.

Bring the healing for which you suffered

to those who are sick in body.

For the one who is resisting you,

we pray that pride would give way to penitence.

Open our eyes to see the works you have created for each of us to do,

and not to be dismayed at the challenge

or envious of others whose work seems more important.

For we are all part of your body.

As your body, we pray that you would unite us in charity.

May your word go forth and bear fruit in our lives today.

Amen.