April 27, 2015

Praying with Psalm 64 today:

Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from the plots of evildoers.
They sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
they shoot suddenly, without fear.
They encourage each other in evil plans, 
they talk about hiding their snares;
they say, 'Who will see it?'
They plot injustice and say,
"We have devised a perfect plan!"
Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.
But God will shoot them with His arrows;
they will suddenly be struck down.
He will turn their own tongues against them 
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.


Hear us, O God, the people who call on You--
the people who bear Your Name.
Your Church needs You Lord.

We pray to You, Lord God of mitochondria and chloroplasts and electrons spinning in orbit around atoms. The God who creates light; and turns light into energy and energy into thoughts and smiles and laughter and hugs. The God who paints the skies with tiny water droplets and wind and light.

In You we see such beauty. But hear our cry, Father God, we are surrounded by things trying to destroy it all. We pray for the suicidal soldier, who is blinded to all good, to all hope. Open their eyes as only You can do. May they awake to Your love surrounding them.
Surround them with good friends, wise chaplains, strong-loving family members.

We pray for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted. We know You know everything Lord, and their blood cries out from the ground. Lord we ask that our enemies will be thwarted. As they defy Your Name, and kill Your children, Lord please strike them down.

...and pray for our enemies?...Lord, help us...Could they be struck with blindness in order to really see? Could they be forgiven? Help us to believe. Help us to forgive.

All people will fear;

they will proclaim the works of God 

and ponder what He has done.

The righteous will rejoice in the Lord

and take refuge in Him;

all the upright in heart will glory in Him!

Lord help us to be Your witnesses. Amongst our soldiers; amongst our neighbors, amongst our world. We want to proclaim Your works.

Thank You that we can take refuge in You. And we lay down our lives for Your glory with new meaning this week.

Abba, Daddy, we also pray for:
--Darrick's foot surgery today.
--for soldiers coming home and reintegrating with their families
--for soldiers leaving home and the families they leave behind
--for our wounded soldiers as they adjust to the new life
--thank You for Sophia's recovery!
--for houses bought and sold and rented
--for the many PCS moves gearing up, especially the complicated overseas ones. Lord, give us peace and wisdom and patience as we work through the process.

We take refuge in You!
We will glory in You!
Amen and Amen!