A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 8/13

Praying with and for a friend in need...

For a friend who's a man...

I have a friend, Lord,
whose aching heart is torn and
burdened with a grief he fears
he hasn't strength to bear...

If I could bear it in his stead
I would
but the pain is his, not mine
and I cannot lift it for him
nor ease it from his soul...

The best that I can do
is to listen to his story and,
with caring and compassion,
hear him out and hope and pray
that in the telling, in the sharing,
some healing and some peace
might flow as freely as his tears...

But you, O Lord,
can strengthen and provide for him
in ways that only grace divine
might touch and mend his brokenness,
soothe and heal his wounds,
rekindle and restore his hope
in you and in your help...

I lift my friend to you in prayer
from my arms into yours, Lord,
from my heart to your own
that you might care for him
in ways beyond my reach...

Be there for my friend, I pray,
with every grace that's yours to give
and open him to see the ways
you stand fast by his side
with a strength and power
meant for him
to draw from and rely on
til his hurt is healed, his heart refreshed
and peace once more his own...

Amen.

For a friend who's a woman

I have a friend, Lord,
whose aching heart is torn and
burdened with a grief she fears
she hasn't strength to bear...

If I could bear it in her stead
I would
but the pain is hers, not mine
and I cannot lift it for her
nor ease it from her soul...

The best that I can do
is to listen to her story and,
with caring and compassion,
hear her out and hope and pray
that in the telling, in the sharing,
some healing and some peace
might flow as freely as her tears...

But you, O Lord,
can strengthen and provide for her
in ways that only grace divine
might touch and mend her brokenness,
might soothe and heal her wounds,
might rekindle and restore her hope
in you and in your help...

I lift my friend to you in prayer
from my arms into yours, Lord,
from my heart to your own
that you might care for her
in ways beyond my reach...

Be there for my friend, I pray,
with every grace that's yours to give
and open her to see the ways
you stand fast by her side
with a strength and power
meant for her
to draw from and rely on
til her hurt is healed, her heart refreshed
and peace once more her own...

Amen.