Prayers for the United States

Prayers naming the United States have followed storms, tornadoes, wildfires and floods across many states, along with elections and political tension, gun violence, and questions of migration and race. Health, mental health and the well-being of ordinary households appear often, as do thanksgivings for its landscapes and wild places.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand: A Prayer for a Melting Glacier and a Warming Ocean (September 26, 2019)

Precious Lord, take my hand. Lead me on, let me stand. I am tired, I am weak, and worn. Precious Lord, there are times when the news of the world – your world – seems only to abuse and abase us, when it seems indeed to assault us. When a large clump of the Mont […]

Listening for God’s Voice: Prayers for Hurricane Dorian and Burning Forests (September 19, 2019)

There is a voice ringing throughout the universe; throughout all space and time; seeking to reach our ears, to touch our hearts and souls. Gracious God, help us to listen for Your voice, calming and clear, throughout the chaos of our frenzied lives, the voices in our heads, and the roaring sounds all around us. […]

Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child: Prayers for Kashmir, Kenya, and Hong Kong (September 12, 2019)

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, A long way from home. – African-American spiritual Mother-Father God, we come to you when we feel lost. We come to you when we feel discouraged. We come to you when our strength […]

Kindle a Flame to Lighten the Dark: Prayers for Hurricane Dorian, Yemen, and Refugees (September 5, 2019)

Kindle a flame to lighten the dark and take all fear away. ~ John L Bell and Graham Maule* When nations are being riven by fear, lies, lack of trust in political, business and so many seeming to seek leadership positions for their own aggrandisement rather than the common good: Kindle a flame to lighten […]

May Your Love Flow Through: A Prayer for the Burning Amazon and a World on Fire (August 29, 2019)

Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. – 1 Peter 4:8 God of love, you created the world and everything in it. You created the beautiful rain forests, the colorful sunsets, the innumerable animals and leaving creatures, human beings, and most of all you created the love […]

Ask the Animals and They Will Teach You: A Prayer for a Dying Glacier and Children in Detention (August 22, 2019)

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? […]

Can We Dare to Love Like You: Prayers for Migrants Stranded off Italy and for the Righteous Few (August 15, 2019)

There is a Love that is deeper than love, that fills the world, that fuels the world. O, give thanks and sing. From Genesis 18:16-23 (Paraphrased): The Lord, having heard much outcry about the sins of the two cities, was prepared to destroy them, and all the people in them. But Abraham challenged the Lord: […]

Lighten the Darkness Where We Are: Prayers After El Paso and Dayton, for Kabul and Kashmir (August 8, 2019)

‘Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him on those who hope in his steadfast love..’ ~ Ps 33:18 ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen….. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God so that what […]

The World Is About to Turn: Prayers for Hong Kong, Moscow Arrests, and Separated Families (August 1, 2019)

My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great, and my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait. You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight, and my weakness you did not spurn, so from east to west shall my name […]

Act Justly, Love Mercy: Prayers After the Yuen Long Attack and the Paradise Fire (July 25, 2019)

He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 NIV Let us pray. We think of the 45 People beaten by organized thugs in Yuen Long, a far northwest metro station […]