Looking to the Good Shepherd for the Healing of our Wounded Church
NOVENA
Day 1 — Justice for the Hurting
“Why should the wicked scorn God, say in their hearts, ‘God does not care’? But you do see you take note of misery and sorrow; you take the matter in hand. To you the helpless can entrust their cause; you are the defender of orphans.” (Psalm 10:13, 14)
O God, we know that you hear the cries of those who look for justice. Help us, who act in your name, to listen intently to those who cry out. Help us to consider their need for justice. Help us who are the church to become a safe place for those who are hurting, feeling abandoned or betrayed. Help us to repair any broken channels of love that have been crushed through fear, neglect, shame or any act of ignoring.
You hear the cries of the broken. Give us ears to hear and hearts that are like yours. Bring justice to those who are hurting.
You are the mighty God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up the wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
Hear our prayer of justice for the hurting.
Day 2 — Sorrow for the Wounded
“Why are you downcast, my soul? Why do you groan within me? Wait for God, for I shall again praise him, my savior and my God.” (Psalm 43:5)
O God, when we listen to those who cry out, we are struck by the deep and lasting wounds of all who have been abused—the pain of their family, friends and all of us who condemn abuse.
Give us the courage to stay attentive to the sorrowing around us and the sorrow we experience in ourselves. Remove meaningless words from us and help us to stand with others offering words of encouragement and when needed, a holy silence. Help us to not run from the pain but to be your healing people with hearts for those who need your gentle care.
You are the mighty God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up the wounds, (Psalm 147:3)
Hear our prayer of sorrow for the wounded.
Day 3 — Honesty in Seeing Hidden Sins
Jesus said to his disciples, “There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.” (Luke 12:2)
Why is it, O God, that we can pretend that you don’t know the deepest recesses of our hearts? Why does living in dishonesty have such a lure for us when we are only fooling ourselves? Are we afraid of the truth? Why do we go to great lengths to cover up our dishonesty when Jesus says the truth will set us free?
Help us to embrace the truth even when we have been reluctant to admit what is in the dark corners of our hearts.
Help us as the community of the church to live the truth without secrets, to act with truth and to encourage truth no matter the consequences. Help us to speak the truth with love.
You are the mighty God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up the wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
Hear our prayer for courage in seeing hidden sins.
Day 4 — Mercy for Sinners
“My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19, 20)
O God, we know that mercy means we must love without measure and forgive without objection. That is so godly and so hard for us human beings to do. Are we like the older brother in the story of the prodigal son who did not show mercy? Help us not to act as the older brother did, resenting the return of his brother and the mercy of their father. Help us to remember all the ways that you have been merciful to us. Give us generous hearts, so that we can give that same gift of mercy to others. Help us to be instruments of unconditional mercy to all.
You are the mighty God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up the wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
Hear our prayer of mercy for sinners.
Day 5 — Forgiveness of One Another
"And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” (Ephesians 4:30 & 32)
O God, how can we understand the nature of your forgiveness? You forgive totally, again and again without question. Your grace is beyond our comprehension! You long for us to be contrite and act against sin in our lives.
Help us as a community of faith to forgive one another seventy times seven times and no longer hold back on our unwillingness to forgive. Help us to recognize where we have sinned and come to you with contrite hearts. Give us hearts ready and willing to receive your gift of forgiveness. Help us give the gift of forgiveness to one another. Thank you for the gift that we do not deserve but would love to receive.
You are the mighty God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up the wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
Hear our prayer for forgiveness of one another.
Day 6 — Healing of all the Wounded
“For I will restore your health; I will heal your injuries.” (Jeremiah 30:17)
O God, you gave us Jesus to show us what healing looks like. Help us to remember that no one was excluded from your healing, except the self-righteous.
Help us to seek your healing with humble hearts. Give us the humility of the centurion who said he was not worthy but instead believed that you had the power to heal his soul. Help us to companion others into your healing heart.
Help us to give a listening ear of understanding and a word of healing to those wounded in their souls. Even if they can’t trust us, help them to put their hope for healing in you!
You are the mighty God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up the wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
Hear our prayer for healing of all the wounded.
Day 7— Trust in God
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
O God, why do we let anxiety, fear and worry be in control? These are not your ways and yet we live much of our lives in the past or the future. Neither the past nor the future exists right now. Help us to be intentional in this present moment to trust ourselves to you. In this moment, help us to surrender our anxiety, fear, and worry of the past and the future.
Help us to have confidence in you and your many promises. You have always been faithful. Help us to act in ways that restore the trust for you that has been damaged by our choices.
You are the mighty God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up the wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
Hear our prayer for trust in You.
Day 8 — Courage to Pursue Holiness
“You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and summoned from its far-off places, To whom I have said, You are my servant; I chose you, I have not rejected you — Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:9, 10)
O God, boldness in faith takes a lot of humility. Who are we to believe that you could use us to restore lost innocence, broken trust and shattered hope? But you do use us to bring reconciliation and your love to others.
O God, boldness in faith takes a lot of nerve. Who are we to imagine that you could use us to do your mighty work? But you can and you do use us to bring your message of redemption to others. It is sometimes subtle and sometimes loud and in public. Use us as we humbly submit to your will and your ways.
You are the mighty God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up the wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
Hear our prayer for courage to pursue holiness.
Day 9 — Love my Neighbor
“Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your own people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:18)
O God, can we know what love is in a time when that word is used so cheaply? We are told to shield ourselves from the “other” and guard against vulnerability but this is not your way.
Jesus loved lavishly those who were not acceptable in society like the lepers. Help us to love our neighbors, even those who are the “other”. Jesus loved foolishly as the religious people accused him of being with tax collectors and sinners. Help us to act with love in the same way. Help us to love beyond measure and to truly open ourselves to be your “prophets of love” in the most unsuspecting places and situations.
You are the mighty God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up the wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
Hear our prayer to love my neighbor.