A prayer from A Pastor Prays for His People by College Church member Wendell Hawley on this balmy July 4 morning.

Gracious God, Father of real freedom,

Deliverer from bondage to all who seek your face,

We pray the prayer of David in the Psalms, who pleaded,

“Bring my soul out of prison.”

Yes, Lord,

free us from the penitentiary of our sins,

free us from the handcuffs of guilt—

we are captured and restrained by the deception

that our way is better than yours.

Free us from the prison of hopelessness—

Thinking that our situation is beyond help or change.

Free us from the high walls of our fears—

fears of today and fears of tomorrow.

Free us from the confines of our foolish rebellion to your laws and

your Word.

Unlock the door that keeps us in our cell of selfish living—

callous actions,

thankless murmurings,

and unjustified complaints.

Free us from the leg irons of hypocrisy—

these deceptions that make us think our duplicity fools you.

Free us from the jailhouse of unbelief.

Deliverance is our need—deliverance from the captivity of sins!

“Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise your name.”

That is our gracious privilege today—

to praise you for complete deliverance

from the guilt,

from the power,

from the judgment of sin.

Keep us in the freedom of experiencing your salvation—constantly,

free to enjoy you—now, today, and forever.

Lord Jesus, we plead for your magnified grace to be upon those of our number

who face—in various forms—the enemy of health and vitality.

Give grace and strength to caregivers.

Comfort the grieving.

Fulfill your promises to those who believe,

This we earnestly pray, in the strong name of Jesus, our Savior.

Amen