Daily Worship

Greece

August 15, 2013 0 0

Isaiah 61

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.

“For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed.”

I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise
spring up before all nations.

Father God, pour out your grace and love all over Greece and the Greek people. Give them beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Cause them, father, to turn to you instead of the things of this world, in order to get comfort, and peace. Let them forsake their own broken cisterns that they have dug. Let them come away from adultery, drugs, alcohol, pornography. Let them come to you, the spring of living water, in order to satisfy their souls.

Let them look to you, to seek you, to ask you for your heavenly provision!

Strengthen families Lord, and help them stay together, rather than break up, during these hard times.

And Father, let your will be done in the Greek Orthodox church. Let there be a move of your Spirit.

Let your word and the genuine knowledge and understanding of your salvation come to every man, every woman, every child who lives in Greece, both Greek and foreign. Let every household, every community, every congregation, come to know who Jesus is, how much He loves them, and what He has done for them on the cross.

Let your salvation come to our country Lord,

We ask in Jesus’ name,

Amen

 

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Keterina Hatziannou-Faulds – Athens