The best in us

Lord God,

We pray for your world. Bring compromise and conciliation to Gaza. Give hope to the people of Zimbabwe. Oversee the aid that has been sent to Haiti – ensure that it goes where it is most needed to build a lasting future for the people there.

Closer to home, may the certainty of your love bring strength and comfort to all those suffering in these uncertain times. Show us what we can do to help.

We pray for your church throughout the Earth. Help us to work together to reveal you to the world so that those who hear about us are thankful for our faith and love.

We pray for this country. Give our leaders wisdom. Guide them as they make decisions so that there is hope and justice for all. As a nation, may we strive for peace not merely security and for sustainability not just growth. May we use our influence for the good of humanity not simply our own interests.

As individuals, show us how to be neighbours. Help us to love you with all our heart and mind and strength and soul. Help us to comprehend how much you love us. Thank you that you see the best in us and treasure who we are. Give us the strength, desire, patience, perseverance and courage to live so that others are able to see the best in us too. May we bring out the best in them.

Lord God, thank you that you hear our prayers, listen to them and act upon them. We turn to you with our whole hearts in all that we do.

In the name of Jesus Christ, your son.

So be it.