Lord, we come to you today in overload mode. Our world financial markets are tottering on the brink of collapse fueled by greed and incompetence, both by borrowers and by lenders.

Abroad, we hear bombings and destruction–in the Middle East, in Pakistan, Georgia, Afghanistan, Angola, Burundi, Kashmir, and even here in the Philippines, violence and terror is pervasive and armies are on the constant brink of war. We wonder where we can go to be truly safe. Even so Lord, help us to understand that there can never be a truly safe place from physical harm in this fallen world.

It is only with You and through you in your loving arms, with our eternal spirit protected by the blood of your son, Jesus, that we can ever find real safety.

Lord, we are in overload mode. At home, we hear of nothing but politics from our leaders. Mudslinging, backbiting and finger pointing have replaced stewardship and statesmanship. Our elections, whether here in the Philippines or abroad seem to get longer and longer with candidates posturing sometimes years in advance of the actual elections.

Lord, help us to see through the empty rhetoric and give us discernment to elect good leaders who are prepared to work for us; who are men and women of righteousness and integrity with a heart to do your will because it’s right and not because it’s popular regardless of their political orientation.

Our Loving God and Father, we are in overload mode. Everyday we call and text and email to each other to the point of excess. Our laptops and cell phones have become idols to us every bit as much as money. We are afraid even for one day to leave these behind, fearful that we might miss even the most inane of messages from cyberspace.

Oh, Lord, why can’t we understand that it is really only your message that is truly important and not all these mindless chatter produced by this dying world.

Lord, we are in physical and mental overload not only from these things but from our own infirmities, both acquired and self-inflicted. We have broken bodies, broken spirits, and broken relationships that need the Master’s hand; that needs the gentle touch of our Creator to still our beating hearts and relieve us of these heavy burdens.

Lord, we thank you for loving us, warts and all. We thank you for this time that we can come together in safety and in friendship to worship and adore you our Living God.

We humbly ask for your blessings on us and on our families. We know that while we may be overloaded, you are not. You have infinite capacity, and it is your gift to us that we might have that too, in Jesus Christ.

Loving Father, we praise you, we thank you and we love you. We ask you to bless our leaders, our Pastors, and all the workers and staff that strive so hard to advance your kingdom. Give them wisdom, strength and discernment.

We ask all of this humbly, but with confidence, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, you son, our Lord. Amen.