Here’s
a prayer of petition written in the wake of the violence in France last weekend. It was written by Erin Counihan, and was
inspired by Psalm 143.
Prayer of Petition
(inspired by Psalm
143)
Hear
our prayer, O Lord,
For
evil is all around us, pursuing us,
crushing us low, weighing us down,
and we sit in the cloud of its heaviness and death.
Again and again, day after day,
crushing us low, weighing us down,
and we sit in the cloud of its heaviness and death.
Again and again, day after day,
bombing
after bombing,
shooting
after shooting.
Our spirits grow weak.
Our hearts are breaking.
Our spirits grow weak.
Our hearts are breaking.
Oh,
but Lord, even in our weakness,
even in our brokenness,
even in our grief,
we remember your hope.
We remember your stories of transformation and faithfulness.
We remember you, our steady and constant love.
And so we reach out to you.
We unload our souls before you.
We empty all our emotions at your feet.
even in our brokenness,
even in our grief,
we remember your hope.
We remember your stories of transformation and faithfulness.
We remember you, our steady and constant love.
And so we reach out to you.
We unload our souls before you.
We empty all our emotions at your feet.
Hear
our prayers, O Lord.
Heal our hearts, O Lord.
Hold our burdens, O Lord.
Heal our hearts, O Lord.
Hold our burdens, O Lord.
Show
us the way we should go.
Teach us how to follow you in this time.
Guide us in faithful witness.
Inspire us to share your radical love.
Even when it is hard.
Even when it feels hopeless.
Let your good spirit lead us.
Teach us how to follow you in this time.
Guide us in faithful witness.
Inspire us to share your radical love.
Even when it is hard.
Even when it feels hopeless.
Let your good spirit lead us.
For
we are your people.
We cling to you.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
We cling to you.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
