Father God, you are Holy and Righteous and are TRULY an AWESOME GOD! [Matthew 6:9]
Your mercies are new every morning, [Lamentations 3:22-23]
and we hear your voice calling us. [John 10:27]
We want to see your will being done in us and through us.
Forgive us of our shortcomings in the same measure that we are forgiving towards others. [Matthew 6:10-15]
Lord, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! [Psalm 133]
Today, we gather together so that we may be unified in one voice to glorify God. [Romans 15:6]
We seek to be led by the Spirit of Truth that the world cannot receive because it neither sees nor knows you. [John 14:17]
Lord, we rejoice together!
Our aim is for restoration of your spirit,
to comfort one another in love,
to agree with one another in truth,
to live together in peace;
We seek the God of love and peace
to be with us, to guide us, and to lead us. [2 Corinthians 13:11]
By the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we all agree that there should be no divisions among us,
but that we should be united in the same mind and the same judgment as Christ. [1 Corinthians 1:10]
We pray for unity of mind,
sympathy towards each other,
brotherly love,
a tender heart,
and a humble mind [1 Peter 3:8]
Above all things,
we put on love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [Colossians 3:14]
We were once prisoners to sin and wickedness [Romans 6:18]
and to pride and the ways of the world,
we were enemies of God because we were friends with the world, [James 4:4]
but now we are free in Christ, free indeed. [John 8:36]
As we are now prisoners for the Lord,
we ask you to stir us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling,
with all humility and gentleness,
with patience, bearing with one another in love,
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit —
just as we were called to the one hope that belongs to our call—
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all. [Ephesians 4:1-6]
Lord, let our manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ,
so that whether we are together with one another or away from each other,
that we may hear about each other that we are standing firm in one spirit,
with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel [Philippians 1:27]
Let your Word be planted in the Good Soil
that you have tilled up,
and don’t let it be stolen away,
don’t let it wither away to dust,
and don’t let it be choked out.
May your Holy Spirit come to abide with us,
convict us of our sin,
teach us the way of righteousness,
lead us in right judgement,
teach us to believe,
to trust in the LORD faithfully,
and to live bearing the fruit of your Holy Spirit, [John 16:8-11]
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control, [Galatians 5:22-23]
for these fulfill the Law through Christ,
and surpass the Law of Moses that cannot save, [Matthew 5:17]
for they are your work in us,
this is the Good News of the Gospel
of Christ who is risen and lives in us. [Galatians 2:20]
May the LORD bless you and keep you;
May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May the LORD lift up His presence upon you
and give you peace. Amen. [Numbers 6:24-26]
Harold J. Ballinger 