I came across this prayer the other day as I was mucking out my garage. Thirty minutes after I found and read it, I heard the report of the shooting in Louisiana where three more police officers were gunned down. Now, more than ever, we need to pray for our country.
I don't know where I originally got this, but a search of the Internet provided the following:
"Below is an adaptation of the litany used at the Cathedral Church of
St. Peter and St. Paul (National Cathedral) in Washington, D.C. at the
celebration of Independence Day on Sunday, July 2, 1995. The litany
itself is based on the Common Book of Prayer's Thanksgiving for the
Nation and Prayer for Sound Government."
The prayer card itself is of my own design. Please consider praying the litany daily for at least the next 9 days. I've created the prayer "card" below in case you would like to print it out for any group that you belong to.
Almighty God, giver of all good things: We thank You for the natural majesty and beauty of this land. They restore us, though we often destroy them.
Heal us.
We thank You for the great resources of this nation. They make us rich, though we often exploit them.
Forgive us.
We thank You for the men and women who have made this country strong. They are models for us, though we often fall short of them.
Inspire us.
We thank You for the torch of liberty which has been lit in this land. It has drawn people from every nation, though we have often hidden from its light.
Enlighten us.
We thank You for the men and women who serve us as first responders – police officers, fire fighters and emergency response personnel – and for the service personnel in the various branches of our military. They offer their lives for our protection, though we are often ungrateful and disrespectful.
Protect us.
We thank You for the faith we have inherited in all its rich variety. It sustains our life, though we have been faithless again and again.
Renew us.
O Lord our Governor, bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth.
Lord, keep this nation under Your care.
Teach our people to rely on Your strength and to accept their responsibilities to their fellow citizens, that they may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for the well-being of our society; that we may serve You faithfully in our generation and honor Your Holy Name. For Yours is the kingdom, O Lord.
And You are exalted as head above all.
Help us, O Lord, to finish the good work here begun. Strengthen our efforts to blot out ignorance and prejudice, and to abolish poverty and crime. And hasten the day when all our people, with many voices in one united chorus, will glorify Your Holy Name.
Amen.
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