Lord of ultimate power

Father, source of all power,

We confess that we do not always use the powers you have given us as you intend.

Sometimes we are afraid of the power we wield,

and so do not use it at all;

at other times we are careless in our use of it and harm others;

at yet other times we deliberately misuse it to achieve our own selfish ends.

We confess our misuse of our God-given powers,

and ask for your grace to use them properly in the future.

We think of the power of the nations of the world.

In international affairs it so often seems that events are out of our control, and rule us.

Father, help us to see how national power can be wielded for the fulfilment of your will.

We think of the power of economic systems.

Often we feel enmeshed in a system which is not fair

and yet cannot be changed without causing immense hardship.

Father, help us to become masters of economic forces

and to order them for the purposes of justice.

We think of the power of governments.

They now touch our personal lives at so many points.

Father, may politicians and civil servants use their powers responsibly

and respect the rights of individuals.

Give us the courage to challenge them when they are wrong,

and willingness to share in the processes of government ourselves.

May the power of governments everywhere be used for the good of all.

Father, yours is the ultimate power.

We see evidence of it everywhere in the world,

but most of all in Jesus Christ.

In him we see the power of your love:

weakness and death did not destroy him and you raised him from death.

May that same power of love be in us.

Caryl Micklem, 1925 – 2003, English minister and hymn writer

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2 Peter 1:3-4

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,

through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises,

so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,

having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

prayer & verse