Strong God,
Your People and your Church cry out for your strength and power because in this world it seems that all the forces of the enemy are strong and trained against us. We ask you to rise up and rescue us from the spirits of anger, fear, division, destruction, hatred, anarchy, and hopelessness that have been unleashed on this nation. Bring us to repentance, renewal, and revival so we can be not cold or lukewarm, but on fire for You. Because of your unfailing love we will boast and praise your name, remembering what you did for your people in ancient Israel and knowing how you have guarded and guided your Church since Christ. It was not by power, might, or sword but by the power of your Holy Spirit that the Church has been able to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. Through you we push back our enemies and trample on our foes. Give us wisdom, strength, and courage for the facing of this hour, and remind us that we are more than conquerers through Jesus who loves us. In the powerful name of Christ we pray, Amen.
Psalm 44
1
We have heard it with our ears, O God;
our ancestors have told us
what you did in their days,
in days long ago.
2
With your hand you drove out the nations
and planted our ancestors;
you crushed the peoples
and made our ancestors flourish.
3
It was not by their sword that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
and the light of your face, for you loved them.
4
You are my King and my God,
who decrees victories for Jacob.
5
Through you we push back our enemies;
through your name we trample our foes.
6
I put no trust in my bow,
my sword does not bring me victory;
7
but you give us victory over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.
8
In God we make our boast all day long,
and we will praise your name forever.
9
But now you have rejected and humbled us;
you no longer go out with our armies.
10
You made us retreat before the enemy,
and our adversaries have plundered us.
11
You gave us up to be devoured like sheep
and have scattered us among the nations.
12
You sold your people for a pittance,
gaining nothing from their sale.
13
You have made us a reproach to our neighbors,
the scorn and derision of those around us.
14
You have made us a byword among the nations;
the peoples shake their heads at us.
15
I live in disgrace all day long,
and my face is covered with shame
16
at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me,
because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.
17
All this came upon us,
though we had not forgotten you;
we had not been false to your covenant.
18
Our hearts had not turned back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
19
But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals;
you covered us over with deep darkness.
20
If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21
would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?
22
Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
23
Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
24
Why do you hide your face
and forget our misery and oppression?
25
We are brought down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.
26
Rise up and help us;
rescue us because of your unfailing love.