Lord, sometimes we are tired and we do not pray. Sometimes, we are in a foul mood. Sometimes we are angry. Sometimes, we lose hope. Lord, it is then that we need to pray the most. When the skies turn dark and the light disappears, then we greatly need to pray. O Lord, hear us even though we do not pray as we ought.

Lord, help to be persistent in our prayers. Help us not to give up. Lord, help us to be consistent in prayer. Help to ask for the right things. Lord, help us to be resistant in prayer. Help us to resist the temptation not to pray.

Lord, we pray for this Church. We have been blessed greatly. We have stood for truth and we have indeed loved the brethren. We have stood for righteousness and we have rebuked the sinner before all, that all might be fearful of sinning. We have trained our children in the word of God and the in the doctrines of our holy religion. Lord, we pray that You do not have anything against us. We pray that we are not ignorant of glaring defects. We pray that our sins do not escape our knowledge. Lord, send us an angel to tell us the truth. Send a messenger who will speak the word of Christ in boldness. Where we fail, may we know it that we might repent. Where we sin, give us knowledge that we might turn from our ways. Help us to overcome. Help us to be more than conquerors in Christ that we may taste of the tree of life and the rich manna of God.

Lord, give us a right balance between truth and love. There should be no tension, but often there is. Truth without love is brutality. Love without truth is sentimentality. Grant to us such a love of the truth that we love each other with an enduring love.

Our Father, we pray for the sick. Grant grace to those who know not what a day will bring. May the pain be removed and the injury be healed.

Lord, help us see Christ in all His glory. We have seen Him as He lived on earth years ago. We have read of His death on the cross for sin, and we have read of His resurrection. He now sits in glory. His eyes are like unto fire and a sword sharp on both sides comes out of His mouth. We, like John, can only marvel at the glory of the Lord. Like him, we fall to our knees like a dead man. Lord, we are afraid. We are afraid of creatures appearing before the Creator. Lord, help us with our fears.

Lord, may we be reminded that Jesus told John , “It is I, do not be afraid.” He told Daniel, “It is I, do not be afraid.” He told Peter, James, and John, “It is I, do not be afraid.” Lord, come to us this morning and tell us through the angel of the Church that even though Jesus is in all His glory, He is our God, He is our Friend, He is our Savior, and we need not be afraid.

When that day comes that we give up our last breath and our spirit is separated from our bodies, may we not be afraid. When that day comes when we appear before the Judge of the Universe, may we not be afraid. May we see Jesus and may He say to us before we are overcome with fear. “Do not be afraid, It is I, Jesus, the first and the last. I was dead and now am alive forever more. I have the keys to death and to Hades. Be not afraid.” O Lord, give us the freedom to live without fear. Give us the freedom to know that Jesus loves us as a Father loves His children.

Lord, grant that we might grow as a Church. Many have left. Some have strayed away. Yet, Lord, we will not get discouraged. We will not quit. We will go on even if there only be a few here to worship Thee. Lord, let each of us say with conviction, “Even if it only be me and my house, we shall be in the house of the Lord.”