Prayer of Grace

Heavenly Father, God of Grace,

We humbly come before you today; praising you for all things; praising you that you are a loving God, a God full of grace. Grace that each of us needs as we are so inadequate and unworthy. Father, forgive us our shortcomings and transgressions!

The Psalmist tells us; Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Father, this picture of your grace is truly marvelous in our eyes; that you have opened the gates of righteousness, you have sent our capstone, our very salvation in our Lord and Savior; Jesus Christ and we cry out with thanks. This is the day the Lord made and we will rejoice and be glad in it.

And, we do rejoice. We rejoice and thank you for the work of Christ that we might rest in a restored relationship with you; we thank you for your church and the fellowship of believers. We thank you for this great nation where we are free to worship and we thank you for families, for our youth, for smiles, for joy and for the eternal hope that only you can provide.

Father, we are a blessed people, yet there are still needs and this day we lift up all those facing crisis, illness, and trials; praying for your grace, your healing touch, your comfort and your strength. We lift up those awaiting medical results praying for wisdom for the doctors and positive outcomes and those recovering from surgery praying for encouragement and continual progress.

Lord this day we lift up our nation with seemingly more issues everyday; this nation facing economic trials, security issues, unemployment, healthcare, immigration and now oil leaking in the gulf. Father, we pray that you will hear our cries and grant us your favor as we trust in your sovereignty. We pray for our church leaders, our pastors, our elders, deacons, ministry leaders and their families praying for comfort, encouragement, strength and wisdom.

And Father at this special time of graduation for many of our youth, we pray for our youth. Father, that you will make their paths clear, that you will lead, guide and direct, that you would protect and Father that by your spirit you will use their gifts in amazing ways; ways that honor and glorify you.

Abba Father, we love you, pray your will be done and pray all these many things in the most holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Grace and Peace!