COV LIFE BLOG

Pastoral Prayer – September 2, 2018

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. (Rev 4.11 NIV)

We come before your throne as a broken people living in a broken world.  You are all knowing, and so you know that each one here must confess, “My life has not worked out according to my plan.”  Whether it be regarding friends, or spouse, or children, or health, or job, or home, or finances, or anything else, we have each envisioned different circumstances than we find ourselves in today.  We must also confess that at the root of most of our disappointments lies sin.  Sometimes the sins of others, but most often and most shamefully, our own.

But you, Just and Merciful God, sent your Son into this broken world to provide a way for us to be reconciled to you and escape the wrath we have earned by our sin.  Living a life that did go exactly according to plan, Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. (1 Pet 3:18)

And, grace upon grace, “to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, you gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12)  

Heavenly Father, as your adopted children, we can now rest in your providence, trusting your promise that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28) Although there is still much we don’t understand, we are comforted to know that our lives are unfolding in accordance with the wise plan of our Sovereign God.  Nothing has or will happen to us that is not exactly according to your plan.  Echoing the prophet Isaiah 25.1, we can say, “O Lord, you are our God; we will exalt you; we will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.”

In Is 46:9b-10 Through Isaiah you’ve told us, “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose…”

Please grant, Triune God, that we will be at peace in our circumstances, knowing that you reign over us.  Although we may not understand, in this world, all that has or will happen in our lives, may we joyfully trust in your providence and say with Paul…

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!  Who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been his counselor?  Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?  For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be the glory forever!  Amen. (NIV)