Praying Through Difficult Times: Almighty Father Who Dost Give

Almighty Father, who dost give

the gift of life to all who live,

look down on all earth's sin and strife

and lift us to a nobler life.

Lift up our hearts, O King of kings,

to brighter hopes and kindlier things,

to visions of a larger good,

and holy dreams of brotherhood.

The world is weary of its pain,

of selfish greed and fruitless gain,

of tarnished honor, falsely strong,

and all its ancient deeds of wrong.

Hear thou the prayer thy servants pray

uprising from all lands today.

And, o'er the vanquished powers of sin,

O bring thy great salvation in!

    Since all of the craziness has been going on in the world, I have been somewhat stunned, as probably have many of you. What can you do in the face of such improbable situations and unimaginable stress and suffering? Romans 8:26 says,  " Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." I first posted this hymn last September because I had felt that it was what I was to pray for the next year or so. Since then I have let the Spirit groan with me through the words of this great hymn, written after the great shaking and devastation of World War I, which was supposed to be "the war to end all wars."
    Hebrews 12:25-29 states it this way: "but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 
Let the Holy Spirit lead you out of spiritual neutral and into groaning with God in prayer!