Feel free to adapt the prayer to suit your needs.
Prayer of Intercession: Proper 15A
(Gen. 45:1-15; Matt. 15:21-28; Rom. 11:1-2, 29-32)
Merciful God,
In love You created us,
and in love You sustain us, day after day.
So it is with confidence that we bring our prayers to You,
knowing that You will hear and respond.
We pray for those who are estranged from spouse or family,
friends or neighbours;
who find it difficult to forgive past wrongs done to them;
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who for years have carrried feelings of guilt or regret
for something they did or something they neglected to do;
who find it difficult to ask for forgiveness or forgive themselves;
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those who find themselves far away from You,
struggling to overcome their doubts or disillusionment,
and who wonder how to find their way back;
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those watching someone they love try to cope
with serious illness or injury,
and who long for Your miraculous intervention;
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the many others in our world who are suffering this day—
from grief, or loneliness, hunger, poverty, violence or illness;
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Sustain all those who look to You in hope.
And strengthen us—Your people—
so that we may be a light to all those who find themselves in darkness.
In the name of Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
Amen.
