We hold before God:

those for whom life is very difficult;

those who have difficult decisions to make,

and who honestly do not know what is the right thing to do.
We hold before God:

those who have difficult tasks to do and to face,

and who fear they may fail in them.

We hold before God:

those who have difficult temptations to face,

and who know only too well that they may fall to them,

if they try to meet them alone.

We hold before God:

those who know that they can be their own worst enemies.

We hold before God:

those who have difficult people to work with;

those who have to suffer unjust treatment, unfair

criticism, unappreciated work.

We hold before God:

those who are sad because someone they loved has died;

and any who are disappointed in something for which the hoped.

We hold before God:

Prisoners, refugees, and those oppressed.

We hold before God:

All these and those in our hearts.

And we commit to care for them with actions louder than words.

– Inspired by a prayer by William Barclay, but slightly edited for our modern context (Matt).