Pastoral Prayer: God of the Living

Here’s a pastoral prayer from Rev. Richard J. Fairchild’s Kir-shalom website.

Pastoral Prayer: God of the Living

God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, we confess to you that we are frequently slow to believe what you have promised through your prophets and in your Son Jesus.  We succumb to fears of death as if it were the end of everything - and all too often we live as if there is nothing to live for beyond death.  Forgive us Lord: forgive us our doubts, our disbelief, and our deafness to the witness of other believers, and our silence when we could give witness to the faith which we have... 
Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord of mercy, God of the living, grant that we might see beyond the ruins that lie about us; that we might take to heart the lessons of Scripture which testify to your willingness and ability to bring new life to dry bones.  Give to those who despair a vision of the resurrection which awaits all those who believe, all those you have chosen.  Help them to order their lives by the principles of your everlasting kingdom—that kingdom in which faith, hope and love transfigure all that they touch... 
Lord, hear our prayer...

Father, help us be a people who are prepared for the journey which lies ahead. Take from us all evil desire; remove from us any refusal we have to forgive others; lift from us any reluctance we have to love our enemies and to bless, in your name, those who curse us.  Send unto us the desire to love one another as Jesus loves us, the yearning to bring your saving word to those who hunger, the longing  to reach out and touch another person with your love and to speak to others—and to ourselves—your truth.  Help us to be ones who are prepared; help us to be ones who live Christ-like lives…
Lord, hear our prayer.

We ask all these things not in our name, but in the name of Jesus Christ—he who taught us to pray to you for ourselves and for the coming of your kingdom saying: “Our Father….”

~ written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild, and posted on Kir-shalom. http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/c-or32sm.php