This blog was first published by Canberra Declaration of the 3rd September 2019. http://www.canberradeclaration.org.au
If you were to go to a service set aside to pray for rain, would you take an umbrella with you?
"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." ~ Genesis 8:22
Prayer of Adoration
Lord, you knew each and everyone of us from before time began. You determined our seasons of Summer, Spring, Autumn and Winter, the times of heat and cold, night and day: these are Your determination, and we know that they are decreed for our benefit. You also gave us the skills that we have, and You have placed us in this time and space for your glory. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, only You can give the rain that this thirsty land needs. You are the God of creation, both the world and each person who lives in it; You are sovereign. Everything works according to the plans that You put in place at the beginning of time, and no other. It is Your good pleasure that allows us to be here, and Father, we honour You as the Creator, Saviour and Giver of all things. Thank you, Lord. As our Maker, You alone determine the length of our days. Your great plan will be carried out according to Your will, and our part in it will be guided by Your hand. Amen.
“Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and lovely to praise Him! 2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name. 5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit. 6 The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music on the harp to our God, 8 Who covers the sky with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the hills. 9 He provides food for the animals, and for the young ravens when they call. 10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legpower of the man. 11 The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His loving devotion.” ~ Psalm 147:1-11
Prayer of Thanksgiving:
For the creation of our world, and for giving us this great southern land, and all the resources that it contains to use. For those surrounding seas that enable us to protect the biodiversity of our land, We thank you, Father.
For the skills of our farmers as they work hard for many long hours each day. We thank you, Father.
For the beauty of Your sunrises and sunsets. For their families that support them and their children who adore them, We thank you, Father.
For the times of prosperity that we have enjoyed in the past. For those that You placed in the right place at the right time and inspired to develop new technologies, We thank you, Father. Amen.
1 Kings 18:1-40
Prayer of Forgiveness
For all those times when we ignored You, or failed to give You full credit for Your handiwork and blessings. For the times we took Your name in vain, and called you Mother Nature. Forgive us Father.
For our arrogance in believing that we knew better than You and could change Your blueprint for our world, and took Your goodness for granted. Forgive us Father.
For thinking of ourselves and not those who might be affected by our actions, allowing our fellow citizens to suffer. Forgive us Father. Amen.
1 Kings 18:41-46
Prayer of Petition
Father, we ask that You would bless our thirsty land with rain. Rain that will soak down into the earth, and allow our crops and pastures to grow again in the Spring time.
We pray, O Lord, for those whom You have set to rule over us; We pray that they will see our plight, just as Your eyes have seen it, and that they will be moved with compassion and render assistance to all those in need.
We pray, O Lord, Father, that You will open our eyes and ears to any opportunity where we can give assistance. Please give us the strength and grace to put others' needs before our own.
Fill us with inspiration, O Lord. Amen.
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[Photo by Darius Soodmand on Unsplash]