Each Monday we lift our voices together in prayer.  Today’s prayer comes from The Presbyterian Outlook and you may find it and others by clicking here.

“Be not anxious,” you tell us, Lord. “Fear not,” your messengers repeat to your terrified children. “My peace I give to you,” Jesus assures us. But in this time and during this season our anxiety runs rampant.

Too many leaders stoke fear and countless justified worries keep us up at night. Hurricanes churn and turn, fires rage, the pandemic persists, political divisions deepen, economic turmoil devastates, our country heaves with the pain of injustice — and through it all, we ask how we can walk by faith and not by sight.

We want to live a life in which your perfect love casts out fear, but we confess, merciful God, that we are afraid, unsure what might come at us next, uncertain how we can endure the relentless suffering and upheaval all around us and right before us.

We cry out, “How long, O Lord?” We yearn to be still and know that you are God. We remember your promise to give when we ask and hear us when we call, so we plead with you now to send your Spirit and ease our troubled hearts. Quiet in us any voice but yours. Help us give to you those burdens we can no longer carry. Do more with us and through us than we could ever hope or imagine.

As we attempt in this tumultuous time to love you and our neighbors with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, clothe us with Christ, make of us a new creation in Christ, unite us in Christ until Christ comes again and crying and mourning and death are no more. We look to you Lord, so that we will not be afraid, and even in our fear we will seek to follow you and be faithful. Amen.