Praying through John 21

Lord,

Like Peter,
we want to live.
Like Peter,
we want to die.

For Jesus,
only for Jesus.

So we long
to follow Jesus in life,
and to follow Him in death.

Yet, Lord,
we confess our limits.

There is a weakness
we cannot shake.

Like Peter,
we want to follow You, Lord;
yet amid the storms of this world
we fear,
we worry,
we grow anxious,

and under the cares of this life
we find ourselves sinking,
deeper and deeper.

Lord,
what shall we do?
What must we do?

Lord, have mercy on us.
Have mercy on our brothers and sisters.

In this hour,
in this place,
Holy Spirit, come to our church.
Speak to us.
Renew our spirits and our hearts.

Open our eyes
to see Your works
in heaven and on earth.

Fill us with faith.
In many troubles and crises,
teach us to worship by faith,
and by faith to hold a living hope.

Make the brothers and sisters of our church
men and women of faith,
able to overcome in every circumstance.

Lord,
give us Your calling.

You called Peter,
shaped him to be like Jesus,
entrusted to him Your sheep—“Feed My sheep”—
and through him You brought life to many souls.

You are the same God,
yesterday and today.
Work among the members of this church,
that our lives may receive a commission from Jesus
and remain faithful to the end.

Make us a people
who love Jesus—
more than anyone,
more than anything—
loving Him with a burning love.

Lord,
strengthen our pastor,
who serves this church with much labor, endurance, and prayer.
Keep him, help him, and renew his strength.

Through his preaching and prayers,
let many in this land
receive the heart of Jesus
and the hope of Jesus.
Work through him, Lord.

And, Lord,
one more request:
by Your grace,
grant healing to those among us who are sick.
Let each one be restored.

We pray in the name of Jesus, who loves us.
Amen.