God, who gave us minds and the ability to reason, who made us in Your image with free will to seek You, meet us at the pole today.

Meet us in the classroom.

Meet us in our lessons, through our teachers, with our friends.

Meet us in our doubt. (Did You really make me from dirt on Day Six?)

Meet us in our arrogance. (Surely there isn't just one way to Life. That isn't fair. Doesn't make sense. You must be wrong.)

Meet us in our busyness. (Quiet scares me.)

God, You who understand us better than we understand ourselves, extend mercy, and meet us at the pole … even if we aren't teenagers.  We, too, need to get quiet, humble ourselves, and believe Your Word.

Amen.

She's evil, Lord.  Mean, on purpose. She knows exactly what to say to get me living in the flesh and not in the Spirit. I'm useless around her. If You've chosen me to be her witness, she doesn't have a chance. I can't see her through Your eyes, only through mine, still stinging with the tears her barbs produced.

So You hug me tight, Abba, and kiss my booboos, and call me, "Princess."  I raise my chin, wipe my eyes, and remember who I am … and who I was.  I get back down on my knees.

Father God, she needs You. She needs Your Son to take away her guilt and shame. She needs Your Spirit to heal the horrible gouges in her soul, full now of bitterness, anger, and regret. She doesn't know what she needs. She only knows she hurts. I beg You, who made her mind and heart, reach her now and touch her deeply. Soften where she's hard, strengthen where she's weak, and provide that new heart.  Give her faith in Jesus Christ. Grant her the ability to believe the Truth when she hears it … because I'm going to tell her … again and again.  I want her to be a princess, too.

Ultimate King,

Who has given us kingdoms and dictatorships and democracies, we acknowledge You as Sovereign, our primary Ruler, where the buck stops and the love begins.  Thank You for the everlasting freedom You provide in Christ Jesus.  We are Your subjects, by choice and design.  Awl our earlobes.  Fit us with armor.  Clothe us in Christ.  We are at Your call as bond slaves, warriors, and heirs of the throne.

Forgive us for yesterday, the independence, the rebellion, the stupidity.  Purify us again that we might plead on behalf of our people.

Father, we pray today for the leaders of nations, of organizations, of corporations, states, principalities, and homes.  We ask only what You have promised us, that You have brought them to positions of power to glorify the Name of Jesus.  We pray in the Name of Jesus for evil to be exposed and deposed, for Truth to reign in all levels of authority.

Father, we pray a double dose of blessing upon the leaders of Your Church, asking You to pour wisdom, discernment, faith, and grace upon them as mighty waterfalls.  Flood them with the cleansing power of Christ.  Encourage them in the work You have set before them.  Burn their spirits with Your Spirit in vision, guidance, and the grandeur of Jesus so that they will not doubt Your will and Your ways.  May we, Your Church, be a joy and a crown to them in our obedience and faith.

Honor to Christ.  Amen.

Father God, I put on the full armor You have provided so that I may take my stand against the devil's schemes.  If today is a day of evil, I pray that I will be able to stand my ground.

I buckle the belt of Truth — the Lord Jesus Christ — around my waist.  I acknowledge that You are Creator, Giver and Sustainer of all life, the one God, the only God, the Master of mankind.  All wisdom begins in You.  All generosity and compassion flow from You.  The truth is that we are nothing without You.

Father, I latch into place the breastplate of righteousness, mine because Jesus is righteous, because He did not sin, because He was obedient to death, and lives.  I praise Your for my righteousness, purchased by His blood.

So, I plant my feet with the readiness to share the Gospel of peace.  I pray not to miss opportunities.  Please raise up workers for the harvest.  Bless Your missionaries, preachers, teachers, and prophets.  I ask for the Truth to be spoken in basements and from the rooftops for those who have ears to hear and believe.  I ask it in Jesus' name.

Lord, I take up my shield, my very faith that You provide, that You strengthen, that You test for imperfections and weaknesses, and that You restore.  I hold it against the flaming lies and accusations of the evil one.  I trust You with the outcome because I know the war has been won.

I fasten the helmet of salvation upon my head, and stand firm in the knowledge that nothing can separate me from Christ's love found in You.  I know that You have arranged salvation for Your glory and our need.  I acknowledge that I must ake my thoughts captive to the obedience and authority of Christ.  I confess my sins of rebellion and pride that have opened me to deception.  I confess I have not resisted temptation even though You provide a way out.  I'm sorry.

And, Lord God, I take up my Sword of the Spirit, Your Holy Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom I live and breathe and have life.  I carry Him before me, opening doors, ripping through webs of deceit, shining light on all the dark lies of this world.  I hold the Truth high in my life so that I might see and others might see You.

I pray in the mighty Name of Jesus for Truth to reign in my heart, my marriage, my church, and in my community.  I pray for Truth to reign in this country, Lord Jesus, for You to take Your rightful place as Master and Lord.

I pray for all lies to be exposed in the Name of Jesus.

I pray for all captives to be set free in the Name of Jesus.

I pray for the broken and the wounded to be healed in the Name of Jesus.

I pray for the lost to be found and restored in the Name of Jesus.

Jesus, I trust You to bring about Your holy will.  I trust You to do exactly what You came to do.  I thank You for the promise that You will return in power.  I thank You for the promise that You have abandoned us, but have left us in the mighty arms of the Comforter.  I thank You for Your faithfulness.

You do all things with compassion and grace, with justice and mercy, in time and out of time.  You are Lord, the Holy God.  You are the great I AM.  You are not shocked, dismayed, or frustrated.

Your will is perfect.  Bring Your perfect will into my life and the lives of my loved ones and Yours, the Church armed for this day.  This I ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Father God, as the Lord Jesus prayed in the garden, so we pray this day for unity among those who believe in the Living Christ.  As You are One — Father, Son, Spirit — so may we be one Body — united not in tolerance, compromise, and pretense, but truly united, possessing the mind of Christ, a sacrificial love for friends and enemies, and a faithful determination to press on to the end.

We thank You, Lord God, for creating Your church as the living Body of Christ, as branches connected to the Vine, bearing good fruit, as the Bride, pure and spotless.  From these examples, we see that we are recreated as one and live as one in Christ, and we praise You.

Father, You are holy.  Jesus, You are Savior.  Spirit, You are strength and wisdom for Your people.  Thank You for the shed blood that unites us as people dependent on truth and grace.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.