Here’s a prayer of
thanksgiving, petition and intercession inspired by I Corinthians 13:1-13. It comes from the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
Prayer
of Intercession: Your Love
(inspired
by 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13)
Your love is patient;
we give you thanks
for all those who have been patient with us
and have taught and
cared for us;
and we pray for the
patience to love others
as you have loved us.
Your love is kind;
give us the courage
to be kind to others
and to serve those
with patience
who are so often
unkind, rude, difficult to love, or our enemies.
They are your children
and our sisters and brothers
and they were made in
your image.
Your love is not
pompous;
give us insight to
speak the truth in love
and for the sake of your
kingdom
and not out of a need
to appear clever or right
and in all our
relationships
give us the wisdom to
listen far more than we speak.
Your love does not
seek its own interests;
we thank you and pray
for those who serve the poor and those in need,
who give tirelessly
of themselves and who have much to do
and little time for
themselves.
Your love is not
quick-tempered;
we pray for those who
are angry
and for the violent and
their victims;
for children who
fear, elders who are abused,
and people trapped in
relationships that injure and harm.
Your love bears all
things;
we remember before
you those with heavy burdens,
many cares, much
stress, and too little comfort and help.
Open our eyes to
those around us and their needs
and give us the
wisdom to offer help
without any prying or
sense of superiority.
Your love never
fails;
even death does not
trespass on the breadth and depth of your love.
We thank you for
those we have loved in this life
and who now dwell in
the peace and joy of your presence
and let your comfort
settle on those who are bereaved
or who are lonely
this day.
In the name of Jesus we
pray. Amen
