Praying about good news in us and through us
Oh, Lord,
There’s not a lot of good news flying around these days.
Not a lot to make us joyful or optimistic.
Not a lot that is attracting the world to the church.
In fact, our news–and our handling of the news–
is probably pushing people away.
If we’re going to bite and devour one another,
who wants that kind of religion?
What a terrible misrepresentation of who God is.
God, I’m asking you to change us.
Change me more every day.
I want my life, my words, and my testimony to spread good news about
God’s love, Jesus’ death, and the Church Jesus started.
And so I pray Colossians 1:3-6 over all of us:
Each time we pray for you, we thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have heard of your faith in Christ and of your love for all God’s people,
because what you hope for is kept safe for you in heaven.
You first heard about this hope when you believed the true message, which is the good news.
The good news is spreading all over the world with great success.
It has spread the same way among you, ever since the first day you learned the truth about God’s wonderful kindness…
May we all behave like we did the moment we accepted God’s good news!
I pray this for all your children,
but especially for those who are confused, misguided, and discouraged.
We are at war with the devil, and we have forgotten that.
We thought we were at war with one another.
Renew the joy of our salvation!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
