Psalm and Congregational Prayer, February 25, 2007
Pastor Mary Scheer
“Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the
LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in
them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD
opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; he
upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to
ruin.” Psalm 146: 5-9
Dear Lord, how comforting it is to hear the words of this Psalm, and
happy are those whose help and hope are found in you. Sometimes we look
to the world and the things of this world for our hope and happiness and
wind up disappointed, but then we are reminded to keep the eyes of our
heart and the focus of our mind on you, the maker of all things.
Help us to be those as the Psalmist says who keep the faith, who
constantly look beyond ourselves and execute justice for the oppressed
and give food to the hungry, providing for those in need.
These are things we can do. In so many ways we are powerless, held
captive by the past, by our desires, by constraints we cannot break free
of, by limitations in our thinking or our body. But you, oh Lord, set
those imprisoned free, opening the eyes of the blind, opening our eyes
to new realities. You draw close to strengthen and support those who
may feel alone in the world. You lift up those who are bowed down,
struggling under the weight of heavy burdens. We lift up now all who
feel bent over with exhaustion, bent over with needs that exceed their
provisions, bent by the weight of grief or loneliness, bent by worry or
fear. We pray for those weakened by physical illness and pray for their
healing, that you would strengthen and restore them once again to
health. Into your hands Lord, we place our requests and prayers of
intercession. Father, you alone are mighty to save and happy are we
because we trust in you. In Jesus Name.
Amen.
