August 20 Prayer

August 20 Prayer
Waking up to smoke, grey skies and clouds over the sea.
It’s thick in the air, without any distant visibility. It’s disturbingly hard to breathe.
I’m reminded of Teresa of Avila’s words in a song,,
‘Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away;
God never changes,
Patience obtains all things,
Whoever has God lacks nothing,
God alone suffices.’

God says through Ezekiel’s prophecy 36:25-26
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean.
A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put in you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stubborn stone and give you a tender, responsive heart of flesh.’
In all that we are facing, let us lay down everything that disturbs us and allow the heart of God to fill us.
We have his new spirit within us to carry his name of hope and holiness. We are made clean.
Let’s pray for the washing of his word over our land.

‘God you are enough.
You alone are what we need so we ask for you to send your rain upon us now.
Cleanse our ways that are not for your love. Make us tender to those that are suffering and fighting within themselves.
We allow you to remove the stubborn places in our own hearts which can be painful. We accept your generous and patient love for us and return it to you.
Show us how to do this. Give back the love you give to us.
We pray for the fires of the land to be snuffed out and the air to be cleared.
Provide protection and wisdom for those responders that are working day and night.
Comfort the families that are displaced and in fear of losing their homes and possessions.
May they come to know you in a greater way.
May your presence surround them with peace.
We thank you that you are our everything and that we know your grace.
Sprinkle us clean again this day.
We pray.
All glory be to Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen