Every Monday, Living Lutheran offers a week’s worth of prayers from the ELCA resource Prayer Ventures, which can be downloaded here. These petitions – one for each day this week – are offered as a guide for your own prayer life as together we pray for the needs of the world and give thanks for the ministries of our church.
Monday, Dec. 14: As John the Baptist was fearless and persistent in proclaiming the coming Messiah, we pray that we, too, may be eager and bold in our witness of the good news with our family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
Tuesday, Dec. 15: The holiday season is often consumed with buying gifts, sending cards, decorating and parties, but we ask God to also put reminders in our days of what it means to prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas—the birth of our Savior.
Wednesday, Dec. 16: The days grow shorter and colder and more unforgiving for those without shelter and warmth. We ask God to help us be instruments of compassion and relief and to help us find and create safe shelter for people who are homeless or face the threat of becoming homeless.
Thursday, Dec. 17: We remember and give thanks for pastors, youth ministers, teachers and all leaders of the church and pray that they will find time for physical and spiritual rest and renewal during this busy season of the church.
Friday, Dec. 18: We remember in our prayers men, women and youth who are in jail or prison and ask that they not be forgotten or excluded from hearing and celebrating the promises of God’s mercy, forgiveness and salvation.
Saturday, Dec. 19: We pray that God will have mercy on us, lead us, restore us, show us steadfast love and be patient with us.
Sunday, Dec. 20: May we will always be joyful and filled with the Holy Spirit, as Elizabeth and Mary were, when we learn what God has in mind for us and when we are placed in unexpected opportunities for service and witness.