Mornng Prayers

"Lord, I know there are wars taking the lives of innocent people.  Old people declare war and young people fight and die in them.  I know as the son of a soldier what it is like for a father not to come home.  Listening to the news makes my heart so heavy I cannot stay.  Lord Jesus, I know, too, about places where people have no clean water and never enough food.  People are suffering even in the places where guns are not roaring.  And, I know what You know.  I have never seen this country in which I live so divided, so contentious, and so full of angry people.  Lord, it is more than this mind can comprehend.   

There is all this big stuff touching the lives of thousands, and then there is the little stuff which my heart counts one by one.  I have been asked to pray for several friends in their battles with cancer.  They live in limbo between hope and fear.  My heart is heavy with sadness as I remember a life long friend whose wife has recently died.  My heart is heavy for him, but his heart is broken and now he must go on alone.  There are so many whose suffering has come inside the circle of my life.  There are some with addiction problems, some are actually carrying rifles in places filled with war, and others suffer chronic health issues from which there seems to be no relief.  

And, Lord, some for whom I pray do not pray, their hearts are hard, and they are pushing against the grace and love You are offering to them.  How do You pray, Lord, when the needs are as big as the world; yet, as near as next door?  Lord, so many hearts are broken.  My heart is broken.  Lord Jesus, strengthen my weak knees.  Keep me from growing weary.  Enable me to believe in what I cannot see.   May Your Kingdom come here among us as it is there in the place we call heaven.  Bless now Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Do those things which seem impossible.  Amen."