This prayer was originally written by NSW Northern Rivers resident, musician and Common Grace contributor, Luke Vassella for Common Grace to share in December 2021. 

Luke has since added further prayers as his community of Lismore has faced devastating flooding over February, more than 2m higher than anything previously recorded, and then again in March 2022.  

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Merciful Father, in these days of trial and distress remind us who you are.

Remind us who you made us to be, as it was in the beginning. We have faltered in our connection with you. We long for your presence, for the assurance of your love for us. May we know your calming presence in this distress, as we acknowledge our brokenness before you.

Father, we have failed.

We have failed to be proper stewards of this country we live on.

We have failed our children.

We have multiplied our sins and handed them down to our descendants.

We have failed our neighbours.

We have failed to speak and act effectively as participants in this wicked and perverse generation.

We are broken before you.

We have failed to take hold of the gospel of peace and have been given over to (ecological) violence.

We have been too comfortable, too fearful, lovers of ourselves, lovers of what we cannot keep, lovers of our worldview.

We have been crippled by the great and powerful forces of doubt, confusion, division and coercion that have arrayed themselves so easily and efficiently against us.

We have surrendered ourselves to be paralysed by traditions, by convention, the safety and familiarity of the way things are and have always seemed to be.

Where is the cure, where is the remedy for our situation?

We are poured out before you Creator God.

We are at the mercy of the storms we have helped manufacture.

We have summoned demons to our command that we now have no control over.

The measure we have used will now be measured against us.

Merciful Father, sustain our courage.

Loving Father, remind us who you have made us to be.

Our identity is in you, we belong to Master Jesus.

We ask you to deliver us from evil.

 

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Our Father, bind us.

The psalmist says “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Ps 147:3

We testify, we have seen your love poured out across Lismore through the kindness of human beings. May this generous spirit continue to bind up our rage, our anger, and our heartbreak in this time. May the kindness of strangers continue to remind us and inspire us to be the hands and feet of Christ in the days ahead. Clothe us with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

May love bind us together as you walk among us Lord Jesus.

Amen.”

(Added 14/3/22)

 

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Lord, have mercy 🙏

(Added 30/3/22)