Heavenly Father I come praying the words of the Psalmist who prayed: “Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your Word. Give me understanding according to Your word. I lift my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” [Psalms 119:154; Psalms 119:169; Psalm 121]
Holy Spirit I pray for my family, friends, and those in my community who fight depression during this time of year. I pray that they will be comforted, that they will not feel alone, and most of all, find Your love. I pray they will witness Your Spirit and know You are with them. I pray for and bind loneliness, despair, suicidal thoughts, anger, and bitterness from my family members, my friends, and my community. Loose onto them hope, love, joy, and the understanding that I and all who pray with me will listen, pray, and support them. Help us to help those who grieve during this time of the year, to demonstrate, compassion, love, and grace.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. In Jesus’ name, whom we draw our hope from, Amen. (2Corinthians 1:3-7)