A Prayer for Today

John 7:6-7 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.” (NIV)

Lord Jesus,

These are complicated times

Which try our souls,

Test our spirits,

And conflict with our faith.

The specter of hatred

Has overshadowed our land,

And the confusion of evil

Has frightened our people.

We have lost the path

That promotes peace,

And have fallen from the way

That leads to love.

Lord Jesus,

We need Your Spirit to guide us.

We need Your words to save us.

We need Your ways to mend us.

The Spirit of justice and liberty

Weeps over our land,

Our leaders, and our people.

We know that we have sinned

By allowing ignorance, intolerance,

And injustice to divide us.

Lord Jesus,

Forgive our false ideas

And foolish notions.

Protect us from ourselves,

And the pain we cause

Through pride, self-righteousness,

And indifference.

Give us the courage

To denounce evil,

And disavow ourselves

From prejudice,

Chaos, and hopelessness.

In Your Holy Name,

We pray. Amen.

Into Your Hands - A Prayer for Today

Luke 23:46a Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (NIV)

Lord, do You have a moment?

I need to speak to You.

I’m worried about the world

And anxious about the future.

I don’t know where we’re headed

Or what’s going to happen.

There’s a lot of hatred

And it’s impacting my faith.

I’ve never known such turmoil,

So I’m concerned for the Church,

Society, and the World.

You see, Lord,

I think I am a Christian,

But I also see so much

Bitterness coming from other folks

Whose faith in You

Is meant to be the same as mine.

I don’t understand

Where this is coming from,

How it got here,

And where it will end up.

So I’m confused about my faith, Lord,

And need Your help to sort this out

In my heart, mind, and soul.

Lord, I only have

This moment called Life

And this space called Earth.

I want to do what’s right

And make this world

A better place

And not a bitter planet.

I want to spread Your love

And not shred other lives.

Lord, I want to be Christian,

A real one, not a religious one.

A true one, not a tormented one,

A faithful one, not a fake one.

Lord, thanks for giving me

This personal moment.

Into Your hands,

I commit my spirit,

My questions,

And my struggle.

Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. You can also contact John by email at Traqair@aol.com.