God of grace and God of life, we seek your presence in our lives. We long to know you and walk in your path of righteousness. We recognize that we live in a broken world, full of dangers and temptations. We know that there are many people and organizations who fight against the coming of your kingdom. Often these forces seem insurmountable. Allow us to stick to our convictions and hold fast to our faith in you. Guide us and allow us to find new ways to do the work of the kingdom. Walk with us as we follow in the way of Jesus Christ and guide us as we navigate the busyness of life. May we turn obstacles into opportunities, misfortune into joy and loss into triumph. We know that you are a God in which all things are possible, that your love for creation and all people is abundant. We give you thanks for the outpouring of your grace which we acknowledge and realize in Jesus Christ. Amen.