Our Father in heaven, we come to you this morning resting and rejoicing in the name of Jesus Christ. Holy, triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority be yours.

We pray, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come, your will be done. Advance the fame of Jesus through the Molero family as they start Sublime Gracia. Use their weekly Bible study to draw those who believe and those who don’t that the name of Christ might be magnified among Spanish speakers in Columbia Heights. We pray for O and S as they labor to make disciples of Jesus at American University. Give them favor and use them to bring many to faith in Jesus. Use our brother H as he labors to spread the aroma of Christ to students in middle school, high school and college. Grant each member of Restoration Church opportunities this week to tell a friend, co-worker, neighbors, classmate or family member about the saving and satisfying name of Jesus.

We pray for Jesus to be exalted through other churches in DC. Use Redemption Hill, Grace DC, Grace Mosaic, Anacostia River Church to faithfully proclaim the excellencies of Christ. Grant favor to 4^th Presbyterian, All Souls Episcopalian, Capitol Hill Baptist, Veritas Church, Passion City Church, Redeemer Arlington and McLean Bible.

Lord, we pray for our own church family this morning. Holy Spirit, fill us afresh, and use us to build each other up in Christ. For the glory of your name, give us the maturity to put personal preferences below gospel priority. Use our Community Groups Lord to help us love Christ more deeply and serve each other selflessly. Shape us and mold us into the image of Jesus. Let us be bold in speaking the hope of the gospel—the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ— to each other. Let us be quick to remind each other of the hope of heaven. Let us forgive each other as we have been forgiven. Let us bear with each other, being tender hearted and compassionate toward our brothers and sisters. For the glory of your name, knit our body together in Christ Jesus as we strive to exalt his name.

Father, we come to you this morning and we lament the brokenness of this world. We grieve the senseless acts of violence and terrorism. We’re sorrowful over the destruction of hurricanes and floods and forest fires. Father, we come to you vividly reminded that even creation is groaning for redemption. Bring hope and healing with those dealing with these tragic situations.

We pray for an end to racism—both at the personal level and injustices that exist at the systematic level. We pray for our brothers and sisters who are a ethnic minority, those who are often taken advantage of, or oppressed or marginalized in some way. Give us Lord, give us at Restoration Church, a deep appreciation for the textured diversity of race. Let us not just tolerate each other, but celebrate the richness of ethnicity and culture.

We pray for first responders as they rush into danger, not knowing what they face putting their lives on the line. We pray for police officers who respond to reports of shooting. We pray for firefighters as they fight blazes right now. We pray for those helping with the cleanup in Houston and Puerto Rico. Father, in your sovereign mercy, use even these devastating events to magnify your name.

Father, your word commands us to pray “for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” Grant wisdom and a sense of justice to all leaders around the world who are charged with serving people made in your image. We pray in particular for the leaders of the Kurdistan Region Government and Iraq. Lord, bring about peace in this region. Prevent any military action. Use this civil unrest to remind the Kurdish people that their greatest hope is not found border boundaries, but in Christ Jesus who reigns over all.

We also pray for the leaders of this country. Grant all elected officials wisdom and a divine sense of justice. May these leaders pursue not just personal gain or political agendas, but that which will help all your image bearers flourish. We pray for president Donald Trump. Bend his heart toward true justice and righteousness for all people. Surround President Trump with men and women who give wise counsel that promotes the dignity and equality of all people – men and women, all races and ethnicities, all religious backgrounds, all sexual orientations, all ages – from the womb until natural death.

Let us, Lord, let us as Christians be a light of hope and happiness. We praise you that King Jesus is on the throne right now and forever more. We praise you that he is reigning and he is soon returning to restore all things back to perfection. We pray rejoicing and resting in his name, the name of Jesus. Amen.