Here’s a prayer of intercession, written by Bruce
Prewer in conjunction with John 3:14-21.
It was posted on http://www.bruceprewer.com/.
Prayer
of Intercession
(inspired by
John 3:14-21)
Today, Christian friends, I ask you to especially
pray for those people for whom we hold scant respect. The ones we tend to write
off as no hopers. I ask you to pray for them because God loves each one of them
just as much as each of us, and it is not God’s desire that even the
worst rogue should perish.
Let us pray.
God of the whole human family, we pray for drug
addicts, dealers, alcoholics, gamblers, those who cheat and rob their own
families, and those who mug vulnerable passers-by.
In your mercy, gracious God,
Hear our prayer
We pray for violent teenage gangs, for rebellious
kids who run away for good homes, those who milk the social
welfare system, and respectable business men who cheat the elderly
out of their life savings.
In your mercy, gracious God,
Hear our prayer
We pray for prostitutes, pimps and their customers,
for paedophiles, those who exploit children to make porn movies, and those who
employ illegal immigrants in sweat shops.
In your mercy, gracious God,
Hear our prayer
We pray for terrorists in many lands, for underworld
bosses, minders and hit men; for rapists, stalkers, seducers, and those who
commit domestic violence.
In your mercy, gracious God,
Hear our prayer
We pray for bank robbers and tax evaders, shop
lifters and vandals, con-men, pickpockets, computer criminals, and burglars who
bash the elderly in their homes.
In your mercy, gracious God,
Hear our prayer
We pray for people who gravely abuse their positions
of trust or power; corrupt lawyers, doctors, politicians, teachers,
police officers, prison officers and ministers of religion.
In your mercy, gracious God,
Hear our prayer
Most loving God, please do not allow us to become
defeatist and bitter. Make us more eager for redemption rather than
retribution, and encourage us to employ the tough love of Christ in the affairs
of our neighbourhood and nation. For your name’s sake. Amen.
