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A prayer for comfort

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  Oh, Lord, our Comfort and our Hope-- I'm grieving a loss. I don't have anywhere to turn but you. I don't know what to say or how to feel. I can't navigate the breadth of my emotions and fears. Only your words and your truth can help me rest in the peace that you alone are my Rock and my Fortress. You are my Stronghold ( Psalm 18:2 ).  I don't need to be afraid. But I am. So help me steer through the fear and the pain to the hope that waits on the other side of grief. When I'm ready-- and every time I'm not ready-- you are present to comfort and re-orient me. Your words are truth, and I will eat them ( Jeremiah 15:16 ). Thank you. In Jesus' name, Amen. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of
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In the presence of my enemies

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"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies . You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. " (Psalm 23:5-6) Well,  Lord, It's been that kind of year. Hard . I know you understand. You know what it's like to sit surrounded by enemies, to know that people are not what they always portray themselves to be, even while they sit next to you and join your life. You know that anyone can say "Lord, Lord," even while they hurt the Church and the world. So you inspired David to sing:     "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies... my cups overflows." ( Psalm 23:5 ) You chose Israel as your special people,  even though they worshipped idols and forgot you again and again. You chose Judas Iscariot to be one of your twelve most intimate friends. You knew he'd betray you, and you picked him anyway. You
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A 9/11 prayer

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Oh, Lord, Pour out your blessing and comfort today on those personally affected by 9/11 . Comfort those who long for family members lost on that terrible day. Restore our country's empathy for human life. Convict us for choosing hatred and hostility over love and forgiveness, for creating disunity when we disagree instead of unity by working together. Sustain us in the hard times to come. Heal us from the suffering we've endured  and help us see that you walk with us through every trial, you hold us through every trauma, you redeem everything we put into your hands to control. Thank you. Bless us because that's who YOU are, not because we deserve your blessing . We are already blessed to overflowing. Thank you. I praise you and love you.  In Jesus' holy name, Amen. "'Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you,' declares the Lord." ( Zechariah 2:11 )
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Praying for school safety

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Lord, God, We grieve at the latest school violence! How horrible and offensive to you and to our children that two school shooters harmed and killed high school students this week , so soon after they returned to school! Protect our children , God! Oh, Lord, change our culture! Change our hearts as a people! Comfort our children  who are traumatized. Rescue those kids who feel that violence is the answer to their fear and pain. Lord, change our country : our government, public health, and school systems so that we can correct the environment and affects of violence and despair. Forgive us for our prejudices, our hatred, our insecurity, all of which come from a wrong view of you and a wrong view of God.  I confess the violence of our youth and our citizens. Lord, reign your mercy down. Hold back your vengeance and share your healing. May we accept and live out your salvation . In Jesus' name,  Amen. "Bring to an end the  violence  of the wicked and make the righteous secure—
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