A prayer for love on the 4th Sunday of Advent
O Lord God of Hosts, you sent your only Son, the man of your right hand, to us as an act of love at Christmas time. On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we pray that you would cause your face to shine upon us. Cause your face to shine upon our church. Cause your face to shine upon our children. Cause your face to shine upon our neighbors. Cause your face to shine upon our nation. Cause your face to shine upon our enemies. We confess that we have failed to act on the Advent love that you placed in our hearts. We have held your salvation close and testified instead to our opinions, ideologies, and private agendas. Forgive us of this sin and restore us again. Restore our minds with the primary knowledge that you have saved us and that we are your witnesses. Restore our hearts with a love for you and a love for our neighbors that cannot help but share. We ask this so that those we love and those you love would be restored to you as well, would be saved as well. We ask this so that you would be glorified in this church, our homes and our community as the only savior of sinners. And we pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, whom you gave for the world that you so loved. Amen
