Understanding God, Temptation Is Nasty...
Intercession
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
The Church of Christ
Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority
The local community
Those who suffer
The communion of saints
These responses may be used:
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Understanding God, temptation is nasty because it so often comes in the disguise of goodness or even holiness. Sometimes I'm tempted to do or say that which will upset or hurt, but I pretend to myself it's in the greater good. And at other times I'm tempted not to do or say that which will hurt, when perhaps I should be speaking the truth in love. It's very confusing.
Understanding God, when I feel I need to justify my actions, is that an indication that I'm actually succumbing to temptation however it's disguised? Help me to identify temptation, and to get to know myself better so that I can be aware when I'm really acting in the greater good and when I'm merely pleasing myself at others' expense.
Understanding God, perhaps temptation is most difficult to identify when it comes within the structures of your Church. It's difficult to challenge an institution which we believe to be holy. Understanding God, may we view your Church with compassion but clarity, with encouragement but honesty, and when we spot temptation or sin, may we have the courage to speak the truth in love.
Today we pray especially for your Church in Sudan with its Archbishop Joseph Marona, and your Church in Lapua, Finland, with its Bishop Jorma Laulaja.
Understanding God, we pray for those who have temptation placed in their way through the circumstances of their life. Those who are so poor that they might be tempted to steal to survive. Those who have been sinned against through war and who might be tempted to hate. Those who have lost everything through some natural disaster, and who might be tempted to loot to restore their property. Those who have power and are tempted to abuse it. And those who move in high places and are tempted to corruption. May the world find ways of spotting temptation and resisting it, so that all may move closer to your kingdom.
We pray especially today for ....
Understanding God, save us from the sins of community. May we abhor gossip. May we welcome newcomers into our midst. May we stand up for the truth and that which is right, even when it means standing in loneliness against the crowd. And may we recognise the subtlety of evil and resist it.
In our own community we pray especially today for ...
Understanding God, we pray for those who are sick, holding them in your presence and asking you to touch them so that they may receive healing. We name before you ... and all those whom we name in the silence of our own hearts.
Understanding God, we remember before you those from our own community who have died recently and we thank you for their unique lives. We name them before you.... And we ask your support and strength and love for those they leave behind them, who must face the pain of bereavement. We pray too for those who still mourn those they love who have died in previous years ....
We ask all these prayers through the one who both identified and resisted temptation, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Church of Christ
Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority
The local community
Those who suffer
The communion of saints
These responses may be used:
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Understanding God, temptation is nasty because it so often comes in the disguise of goodness or even holiness. Sometimes I'm tempted to do or say that which will upset or hurt, but I pretend to myself it's in the greater good. And at other times I'm tempted not to do or say that which will hurt, when perhaps I should be speaking the truth in love. It's very confusing.
Understanding God, when I feel I need to justify my actions, is that an indication that I'm actually succumbing to temptation however it's disguised? Help me to identify temptation, and to get to know myself better so that I can be aware when I'm really acting in the greater good and when I'm merely pleasing myself at others' expense.
Understanding God, perhaps temptation is most difficult to identify when it comes within the structures of your Church. It's difficult to challenge an institution which we believe to be holy. Understanding God, may we view your Church with compassion but clarity, with encouragement but honesty, and when we spot temptation or sin, may we have the courage to speak the truth in love.
Today we pray especially for your Church in Sudan with its Archbishop Joseph Marona, and your Church in Lapua, Finland, with its Bishop Jorma Laulaja.
Understanding God, we pray for those who have temptation placed in their way through the circumstances of their life. Those who are so poor that they might be tempted to steal to survive. Those who have been sinned against through war and who might be tempted to hate. Those who have lost everything through some natural disaster, and who might be tempted to loot to restore their property. Those who have power and are tempted to abuse it. And those who move in high places and are tempted to corruption. May the world find ways of spotting temptation and resisting it, so that all may move closer to your kingdom.
We pray especially today for ....
Understanding God, save us from the sins of community. May we abhor gossip. May we welcome newcomers into our midst. May we stand up for the truth and that which is right, even when it means standing in loneliness against the crowd. And may we recognise the subtlety of evil and resist it.
In our own community we pray especially today for ...
Understanding God, we pray for those who are sick, holding them in your presence and asking you to touch them so that they may receive healing. We name before you ... and all those whom we name in the silence of our own hearts.
Understanding God, we remember before you those from our own community who have died recently and we thank you for their unique lives. We name them before you.... And we ask your support and strength and love for those they leave behind them, who must face the pain of bereavement. We pray too for those who still mourn those they love who have died in previous years ....
We ask all these prayers through the one who both identified and resisted temptation, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
