Mighty God, we come to you this morning. And we worship you in all your splendor. Father, Son and Spirit perfect in holiness, gracious in redemption, sovereign, unchangeable, justice, righteous and good. We worship you. Father, we praise you for adopting us as your sons and daughters. Jesus, we praise you for your sin-atoning death and glorious resurrection. Holy Spirit, we praise you for sealing us and keeping us secure in Christ Jesus. You, Lord, are good; your steadfast love endures forever and your faithfulness to all generations.

We pray for those here this morning with a heavy heart, those struggling with trials and unfavorable circumstances. Remind them of your compassion and love this morning. We pray for those here this morning who are battling to find joy in Christ, who in this season find you dull and boring. For the sake of your name, fill them afresh with your Holy Spirit and open their eyes that they might behold the beauty of Christ and be satisfied. We pray for those here this morning that are encouraged and walking faithfully with Jesus. Spur them on all the more and cause your word to be all the more captivating to them. Father, for the glory of your name and the good of Restoration Church, use all of us to speak gospel truth into each other’s lives. Give us the grace to continue to live interconnected, interdependent lives that magnify Jesus. We praise you for the numerous ways this happens each week. We also praise you for the financial generosity of our church. Thank you that our members give generously to support the gospel ministry of our church. Continue to conform us to the image of Jesus all the more.

We pray for our enemies this morning. We pray for those who desire to harm and murder your image bearers. Bring the leaders of ISIS and Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda to faith in Jesus. If your grace and mercy saved us, it can save them. For the glory of your name, richly pour out your saving grace on Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Ahmed Direye. Bring Ibrahim al-Asiri and Abu Omar al-Shishani to repentance and faith in Jesus. In your sovereign grace, use these men to not harm people, but to bring about their good. However, you choose to work Lord, restrain the evil these groups are able to bring about.

Father, we thank you that we live in a land of peace. We thank you for a government that is orderly. And we pray for our government officials. Give President Obama wisdom and a sense of justice to rule in such a way that brings about flourishing for all your image bearers. We pray for federal and state and locally elected officials; direct and prosper all their dealings, to the advancement of your glory, the good of your Church, the safety, honor, and welfare of all people. Father, we pray specifically that you would give our leaders divine wisdom regarding the issues of immigration, gun control and abortion. Help them use their power not to accomplish personal agendas, but to serve all your people, to protect all your image bearers, even those in the womb or those from another country. Lord give us all wisdom as we seek to live in a broken world filled with turmoil. We praise you that our ultimate hope is not in our government or any other nation, but in Christ Jesus. Come, Lord, Jesus come, we pray.

We pray this morning for the students and teachers as they ready themselves for another semester. Help students and teachers alike use their time and resources to honor you. Give all our students the capacity to learn, to honor you with their mind and get the best God-honoring grades they can. Give all the teachers among us the perseverance and humility to faithfully serve their students day after day. We pray for this school, for Woodrow Wilson High School. We pray for Principal Kimberly J. Martin. Give her much grace and wisdom as she leads this school.

Father, we’re so thankful that we’re not the only church laboring for your gospel here in this city. We praise you for Washington International Church and All Nations DC and Capitol Hill Baptist. Use them Lord to make much of Christ. We praise you for churches around this nation faithfully proclaiming Christ Jesus. Continue to use our mother church, North Wake, and our sister churches, Oaks Church Raleigh and Exchange Church and Covenant Life Church in Tampa, to make much of Christ Jesus.

Lord, we praise you for the many ways the gospel is advancing around the world. Raise up believers among the Behdini Kurds. Save people from the unreached Rakhine people of Burma and the Malay people of South Africa. For the hallowing of your name, save people from all tribes, tongues and nations.

Holy God, we’re so thankful and praise you that there is salvation and satisfaction in Christ Jesus. We praise you because we ourselves are the foremost of sinners. We confess that we often think we’re better than others; that somehow our goodness is what saves us. Forgive us, Lord. We confess that we lie to make ourselves look better; we self-righteously compare to justify our behavior; we gossip and slander and withhold forgiveness. Forgive us, Lord. We praise you that there is now no condemnation for those in trusting in Christ Jesus. We thank you that we are not just pardoned criminals, but your precious children. We praise you that in Christ, you’re not just our distant judge but our devoted Father. We praise you that we are saved according to the riches of your grace lavished upon us in Christ Jesus, who lived, died and rose again that we might have forgiveness and the fullness of joy forevermore. It’s in his name we pray. Amen.