I mourn the loss of family members and friends. I miss them so much!
Help me to trust that You are our Creator, Who made each of us to dwell with You. Help me to know they are safe, well, and happy in Your embrace.
I grieve the loss of health for so many.
Help me to trust that You are a healing God and that You already desire and choose to heal each person in the way that he or she needs healing.
I grieve the loss of relationships for so many.
Help me to trust that You are the great Unifier Who can mend broken relationships and hearts.
I grieve the pain of those wounded by hate and discrimination.
Help me to trust that You are Father to all and hear every prayer from every religious denomination and consider everyone to be made in Your Image and Likeness.
I grieve for my country, torn apart by so many problems and issues. All of us cry out in anger and frustration, knowing part of the truth, gleaned from our own experiences. All of us cry out for both justice and mercy.
Because we are great, because we are the Land of Opportunity, people want to come to us from everywhere, fleeing oppression.
Because we are Free, fanatics from around the world want to destroy us and re-make us in their image.
Because we are a land of Enterprise, even some of our own people, ruled by greed, take advantage of their brothers and sisters and destroy the lands and waters, refuse us jobs.
Yet we are so divided within, in our politics, it would be easy to destroy ourselves!
Oh God of Wisdom, You see and comprehend everything. You understand all, far beyond what we know with our limited vision.
Heal our self-inflicted wounds. Give us courage and compassion to look beyond our own vision to a wider view of all our problems so we choose wisely and well in all our decisions. Choose wisely for our own country. Choose wisely for our world.
Fill us with compassion, so we listen well to our brothers and sisters from around this world, hear the truth of their words, and respond with what they need.
Cover us with Your Love, Lord, Your Mercy, Your Wisdom, so that for all of us, this country, this world, is our Home - where we can safely belong, - until You wipe every tear from our eyes and bring us to our heavenly Home.
Amen.