Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way... (Isaiah 35:3)
Heavenly Father, "no one is like You, Lord; You are great, and Your name is mighty in power" (Jeremiah 10:6). You have saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to [Your] own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began… (2 Timothy 1:9).
We are mindful of the charge from our Lord Jesus to the church at Thyatira, "hold fast what you have till I come" (Revelation 2:25). Help us, Lord! You have sent us out into a broken world to show Your love to others and to shine as lights in the darkness. We face so many distractions, and we often feel like the apostle and his companions, "we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within" (2 Corinthians 7:5).
We know, Lord, that we are not exempt from the common trials and difficult circumstances of this fallen world, and we thank You for the strength and endurance You give to help us "finish the course." But we also know that because we are called to do Your work, we constantly face battles on the spiritual front:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).
God of all grace, keep us alert and focused. Help us to be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). Remind us of what's at stake. Keep before us the needs of a world that is lost and confused; troubled and distressed. Help us to see the despair behind the daily grind of "quiet desperation." Help us to hear the hopelessness behind the masks of noisy nothingness.
Help us not to be afraid to share hope. Give us courage and wisdom. Fill us with Your Spirit. Hold us up on the knowledge of Your grace. Help us to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks [us] to give the reason for the hope that [we] have." Help us to "do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).
Teach us to wrestle in prayer for the souls of those around us. We lift them all to You O Lord. Strengthen our feeble hands; steady our shaky knees.
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