Most Holy and Merciful Father,
It is with humble and grateful hearts that we bow before Your sovereign majesty. With confidence we draw nigh to Your throne of grace, to rejoice in Your gospel promises and earnestly pray for the 52nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America. O LORD, we enter Your holy presence, not through our own defective works, but through the impeccable works of Christ. He alone is our salvation. We stand before You now— cleansed by His atoning blood, robed in His justifying righteousness, and adopted as Your beloved sons.
Therefore, we declare with the psalmist: Whom have I in heaven but You, O LORD? Whom do I desire on the earth besides You? You are exceedingly precious; an incomparable treasure. Blessed triune God, nothing compares with You! Your steadfast love reaches to the heavens, and Your faithfulness to the clouds. You are worthy of our highest thoughts, deepest affections, and most grateful obedience. By grace You have rescued us from the unspeakable depths of hell, and secured for us a place with You in the magnificent heights of heaven. We love and praise You, O God. We bless Your Name forever and ever!
Heavenly Father, as we enter Your presence, we are mindful of our many sins. Forgive us for our wandering hearts, drawn away by the siren songs of the world, the fearful refrains of our sinful desires, and the deceitful melodies of the evil one. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, and grant us the grace to pay closer attention to the beautiful and trustworthy voice of Christ in Scripture.
As our beloved denomination gathers in Chattanooga this week, grant us the grace to keep our eyes on the loveliness of Christ. Help us to mortify the pride and selfish ambition that lurks in our hearts, and to view others as more important than ourselves. Help us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we’ve been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Lead us, O LORD, that we may have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies that breed quarrels. Fill us with Your Spirit, that Your ordained servants would not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting opponents with gentleness, knowing that God may perhaps grant repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
When disagreements arise, help us to communicate with love. Grant us the grace to be kind and charitable toward our blood-bought brothers with whom we differ. In addition, grant us the courage to defend Scripture and our Confessional Standards when error is advanced. Help us to discern when to speak and when to be silent.
Holy Spirit, we pray that You would work mightily in and through the work of every elder, committee, and agency. Bless the three services of Word and sacrament. Grant grace and wisdom to the new moderator and interim stated clerk. Bless the numerous ministries, networks, and exhibitors that will be present at this year’s assembly.
Almighty and everlasting Father, as presbyters and their families gather together for a week of business, fellowship, and ministry, we ask that You would pour out great blessing upon Your church. Build up Your saints, O LORD. Only You can do these things. Only You can change hearts and lives. Only You can make the PCA a more biblically sound, confessionally faithful, evangelistically fearless, and ecclesiastically unified church. We are Yours, O God. Have Your way with us. Revive and reform us again according to Your Word.
In the matchless name of Jesus, we pray.
Amen
Scripture Texts: Hebrews 4:16; Psalm 73:25; Psalm 36:5; Romans 8:13; Philippians 2:3; Ephesians 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:23-25; Titus 1:9
