Epiphany 24

Lord and God,

The God in heaven who called every able man in Israel to defend the ark and put the promised land into the possession of his people is the God on earth who makes the body well. You are our strength, Father, and we praise you for it. Those who hope in you are never put to shame. The touch of the unclean woman does not defile you, rather you make her clean and well by her faith.

So we ask you: deliver us from our enemies. Let us not fall into the hands of ravenous wickedness. Let evil not rule, either over us in the world or within our hearts. Let us love and serve you with all our strength, not because you have need of our strength—you need nothing—but so that all that is our strength, all that we are and have, may serve you.