O God of Heaven and Father of Jesus Christ, 

 We praise you for your love and faithfulness – your unfathomable love that follows us wherever we go. But though down deep we believe you haven’t stopped loving us and you will fulfill your purpose for us, we fight fear when so many things seem to be going wrong. And right now the entire earth seems to be in turmoil

Please keep us from fear today.

Open our eyes to see the ways you are working through the disasters wrapping around the globe and difficulties in our own lives. Help us stop worrying -- because we know we are still safely in your hand and you will fulfill your purpose in our lives. Give us a fresh sense that it isn’t all about us, it’s about you. And we are part of your plan. Help us follow and obey you with joy, Lord, as we return your love. We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Supporting verses:

“Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Psalm 119:18

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” Psalm 138: 8

“If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost part of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,’ even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Psalm 139: 8 –12

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91: 1, 2

Thanksgiving Prayer for Soldier and Family Member Far from Home

O Lord,

            You have set your glory above the heavens. The sun and all the stars are the work of your fingers. And yet, amazingly, you are mindful of us. You observe everything we do and our daily lives matter to you. You look down on our loved ones who are too far from home to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with us and your heart aches for them.

So does ours. We want them to feel joy and belonging, to be included in a family. Please ease the loneliness that has settled around some of them like gray fog. Fill the emptiness. Comfort them. Enable the ones we love to feel our love reaching out to them -- longing for them.  Open and increase their awareness of your love and protection surrounding them. Send powerful angels to minister to the loneliness.

Please banish all hopelessness. Help them fix their eyes on you and know you have a future and a hope for them. Keep them safe from the evil one and make it clear that you planned good things for them long ago. Lift their heads and make them able to think on things that are noble and true. Teach them to remember you and their hope of heaven. Give them grateful hearts.

We are so thankful that you have given them to us, Lord. Help us remember that they are in your hand and much loved. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Supporting verses:

“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.  Out of the mouths of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care of him?” Psalm 8:1 - 4

“I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the LORD, you Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor.” Is. 51: 12-13

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Philippians 1:3 – 5

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

O Father in Heaven who loves us and watches over us,

In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, I ask you to bless my friend today with the rich blessings you promise in your Word.

•        Bless my friend by making him / her able to feel your love and know that   nothing can ever take that love from him / her.

•        Bless my friend with the comfort of knowing you watch over every detail of his / her life.

•       Bless my friend with justice. Protect and defend him / her against deceitful people.

•       Bless all my friend's family: parents, siblings, children and grandchildren.

•       Bless my friend with a tongue that speaks wisdom and encouragement.

•       Bless the nation in which my friend lives so that he / she will live in peace.

•       Bless my friend with confidence that you save everyone who looks to you.

•       Bless my friend with hope.

Supporting verses:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present or things to come, nor powers, not height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Prov. 15:3

“Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!  . . . Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.  . . . But you have saved us from our foes.” 

Psalm 45:1, 5,7

“The tongue of the wise commends knowledge.” Proverbs 15:2

“The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” Psalm 33:11,12

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul form death and keep them alive in famine.” Psalm 33:18