The Eyes of Faith

October 10, 2004

Thank you for the privilege of coming to this holy place, this sanctuary, for these moments when we have drawn aside from the hustle and bustle of life in order to be reminded of greater things, nobler things, loftier things. We gather to celebrate the power of your kingdom and to contemplate the depth of your grace.

We ask you to forgive us if, today or any other day of worship, we have strolled too casually into your holy presence. Forgive us when we have come singing of your reign on high while distracted by things below. Forgive us when we have mouthed the words of eternal forgiveness even as we privately rehearsed our paybacks for earthly slights.

Draw our eyes upward, O God. Help us to look heavenward to see what your kingdom can be. Help us to look toward Christ to see who we can become.

But we ask also that you would not permit us to ONLY look heavenward.

Draw our eyes across the seas as we pray for missionaries who have given up the good things in this culture in order to bring the gospel to another culture. We pray especially for missionaries serving in southern Africa, in places like Zimbabwe, where 4000 funerals a day are held for those killed by AIDS.

Hear our prayer for both soldiers and diplomats serving amid danger; our prayer for peace where there is war, for food where there is hunger, for acceptance where there is layer upon layer of prejudice and hatred.

Hear our prayer also for needs closer to home: for members of our church who have parts of their bodies that are broken and in need of healing; for members of our church who have homes that are broken, whose lives are in need of healing; for member of our church whose spirits are in danger of being broken, who are in need of strength and hope and courage.

Finally, O God, we ask that you open our eyes as we move about our daily routines. Show us people in need of your love and our prayers.

Draw our eyes to the 13-year old girl who thumbs through Glamour magazine and then looks discouragingly at herself in the mirror. May she see through the lies our society teaches about beauty. May she find her beauty in the way you have made her, and in the way you love her.

Draw our eyes to the hourly worker as he wolfs down a burger driving from job #1 to job #2. May he be granted the strength to endure the physical pain that comes with laboring from sunup to sundown even as he works to improve his place in our society. May our society treat him justly.

Draw our eyes to the professional person lying awake at 2:00am, knowing that the person she fired today did indeed have to be fired, but still resting uneasily under the weight of making decisions. May she have confidence rooted in integrity.

Draw our eyes to the nursing home. As the stroke victim struggles through therapy, may he be granted the strength and health to return home. As the Alzheimer's patient lingers in confusion, may she be granted the gift of a smile or a hug, for she still recognizes that these things mean love.

Open our hearts, O God, to the needs all around us. Help us to do what we can to make a difference. May your Spirit minister where we cannot.

Amen

Copyright © 2004 Broadway Baptist Church