Heavenly Father,

We thank You that You, Your Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have always been, are, and always will be the same.  We come into Your presence with thanksgiving in our hearts, for You are not only the Maker of heaven and earth but also Adonai, the owner, ruler, and master of all creation.  We praise You as Creator, for the earth is Yours and the fullness thereof, and for Your creative power that remains unchanged since time began.

We thank You further for your goodness and mercy, which follows Your children all the days of our lives, and we choose today to justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before our God.  We pray for those who are oppressed and those who are poor not only in spirit but also lack the needs of their bodies.  May we do more than pray for You to meet their need according to Your riches and glory in Christ.    Let our love for the brethren be not only in word but also in deed.  Holy Spirit, we ask You to bring to remembrance all that Christ taught and lead us into all truth, for You Jesus are the way, the truth, and the life and the only way to the Father.

We pray also for those who do not walk in the light of truth, for You Jesus are the Light of the world.  We pray that those who oppose the truth of the Word of God and those who would pervert that truth might be granted a spirit of repentance and be saved.  We know it is Your will that all come to repentance and that You are not a respecter of persons.

Let Your love, Father, dwell richly in our hearts and enable us to return good for evil and to pray fervently for those who despitefully use and persecute us, for the fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

May all that we do bring glory and honor to You, Father, and we ask all these things in Jesus’ name.

Amen