Prayers of the People: Revelation 21

Here’s a thoughtful prayer of intercession inspired by Revelation 21.  It was written by Sara Hargreaves, co-leader of Engage Worship (see below for link).

Prayer of Intercession
(based on Revelation 21)

We have hope.

John writes in Revelation 21:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth;
for the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

‘See, the home of God is now among the people.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the old order of things have passed away.’

And the one who was seated on the throne said,
‘See, I am making all things new.’
Also, he said,
‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’
Then he said to me,
‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the beginning and the end.
To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.’

We pray for those who are lonely.
We hope in the promise that the home of God will be among people:
that God will dwell with us,
that we will be his people and that God himself will be with us.

We mention in our hearts those we know who are lonely or isolated.

Pause

Lord you said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’
‘Amen, make all things new!’

We pray for those who are crying;
the sad, the depressed and the anxious.
We hope in the promise that God will wipe every tear from our eyes.

We mention in our hearts those we know who are sad and who know tears.

Pause

Lord you said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’
‘Amen, make all things new!’

We pray for those who are experiencing the consequences of death,
the bereaved and those who are mourning.
We hope in the promise that death and mourning will be no more.

We mention in our hearts those we know
who are affected by death and mourning

Pause

Lord you said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’
‘Amen, make all things new!’

We pray for those who are in pain,
suffering from illness either physical or mental.
We hope in the promise that crying and pain will be no more.

We mention in our hearts those we know who are ill or in pain.

Pause

Lord you said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’
‘Amen, make all things new!’

We pray for those who are thirsty for truth, love and grace;
those who seek God and his life with earnest hearts.
We hope in the promise that God will give water to the thirsty without cost
from the spring of the water of life.

We mention in our hearts those we know who hunger and thirst for God.

Pause

Lord you said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’
‘Amen, make all things new!’

Lord, your words are trustworthy and true.
You are the Alpha and the Omega,
the beginning and the end.
We pray all this in the powerful and hopeful name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.

~ written by Sara Hargreaves, and posted on EngageWorship.org. http://engageworship.org/ Check out that website for many other excellent resources for worship.