Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles
are achieving for us an eternal glory
that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.

- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Source: The Bible (New International Version)

Loving God, the hope and protector of all humankind; bless those whose loved ones are missing. The agony of not knowing whether someone is living or dead is a daily torture. The uncertainty of life’s future relationships hangs in limbo. Hope rides a roller coaster. Yet each day must be lived. Give unto your people the blessing of your grace that they may face each day with courage and hope. Guard their families from further danger and harm and hold them in the blessing of your love. Amen.

- Vienna Cobb Anderson

Source: Adapted from "Prayers of Our Hearts" © 1991 Vienna Cobb Anderson. Reprinted with the permission of the author.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.

- Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, and though the mountains be moved into the heart of the seas;

Though the waters thereof roar and foam, though the mountains shake at the swelling thereof. Selah

There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the holiest dwelling-place of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, at the approach of morning.

Nations were in tumult, kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

HaShem of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our high tower. Selah

Come, behold the works of HaShem, who hath made desolations in the earth.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariots in the fire.

'Let be, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'

- Psalms 46: 2-11

Source: Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917); read a Christian translation

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.

- John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)

Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Source: Book of Common Prayer 1979

O thou that dwellest in the covert of the Most High, and abidest in the shadow of the Almighty;

I will say of HaShem, who is my refuge and my fortress, my G-d, in whom I trust,

That He will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He will cover thee with His pinions, and under His wings shalt thou take refuge; His truth is a shield and a buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day;

Of the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor of the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand may fall at Thy side, and ten thousand at Thy right hand; it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the recompense of the wicked.

For thou hast made HaShem who is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation.

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent.

For He will give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee upon their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and asp; the young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under feet.

'Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and bring him to honour.

With long life will I satisfy him, and make Him to behold My salvation.'

- Psalms 91: 1-16

Source: Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917); read a Christian translation

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
From the end of the earth will I call unto Thee, when my heart fainteth; lead me to a rock that is too high for me.
For Thou hast been a refuge for me, a tower of strength in the face of the enemy.
I will dwell in Thy Tent for ever; I will take refuge in the covert of Thy wings. Selah

- Psalms 61: 2-5

Source: Source: Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917); read a Christian translation

Let us pray. O God, our Heavenly Father, out of whose mind this great cosmic universe has been created, toward whom the weary and perplexed of all generations turn for consolation and direction, we come before Thy presence this evening thanking Thee for the many blessings of life. We come recognizing our dependence on Thee.

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Father, I'm praying for (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends who are single...

For these who are not married and may find it troubling, I ask You to help them learn to be content with being single, as well as with any other issues or circumstances of life they find themselves in. (Philippians 4:11b)

Help them delight in You, for You have said when we do, You'll give us the desires of our heart. May their desires match Your desires, Your will and plan for their lives; then fulfill Your purpose for them. (Psalm 37:4; 57:2; 138:8)

If Your plan is for them to be married, give them the grace to wait on You, to be strong and take heart. As they wait, help them to keep Your ways, discerning what is best, keeping pure and blameless in Your sight. (Psalm 27:14; 37:34; Philippians 1:10)

I ask Your special touch on those who are single parents, because managing a home without a spouse can be difficult. May they put their hope in You, continuing night and day in prayer. May others in the body of Christ respond to their needs as they would want to be helped if they were alone. (1 Timothy 5:5; Matthew 7:12)

May they be fulfilled in Christ. In Jesus' name, amen.

- Jim & Kaye Johns

Source: "Prayers for the Moment: One-Minute Scripture Prayers" Copyright September 2006. Reprinted with permission of B&H Publishing Group