Fasting and Prayers for our Military and the suffering People of Iraq

Anyone who would like to request prayers or fasting for their loved ones in the military or for themselves as they go into harm's way, or would like to offer up such prayers and fasts, please join this thread.

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seeth not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and acceptable day to the LORD?
Is not this the fast I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seeth the naked, that thou cover him; and that thy hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.
Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thou light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day,; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

God bless you patriciaruth,We do not know where Jim, Patty and Adam are deployed,we do know that Samara's christian family is in the heart of baghdad and can not leave .They have been ordered to stay inside.
The Shield of St. Patrick
The Shield or Breastplate of St. Patrick is attributed to Patrick, but may not have been written by him. There are many variations, a common one using just the middle section.

The following version is a literal translation from the old Irish text:

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.

I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.

I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

Another version is a paraphrasing by Cecil Frances Alexander.

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, the One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever by power of faith Christ's incarnation,
his baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way,
his coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to harken to my need,
the wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
the Word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me;
Christ to comfort and restore me;
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three,
of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
praise to the God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!

Psalm 103

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thine diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
He made known his ways unto Moses; his acts unto the children of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
To such as keep his covernant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, harkening unto the voice of his word.
Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Holy Spirit, we pray earnestly for the our soldiers, guardsmen, sailors, marines, and airmen. Please be within them and have mercy on them. Dearest Heavenly Father, send St. Michael, Archangel, to defend them in battle and have mercy on our military represented by the names we tender to Thee here.

OhioWfan's son Eric
OhioWfan's son's unit buddy, Sean
mystery-ak's husband Mike and their son Jonathan
GoGranny's grandson
Inspectorette's son Eric
LBGA's son
Slip18's nephew
anniegetyourgun's nephew Josh
Himyar's son Robert
homeschool mama's nephew Michael
CyberAnt's nephew Jody
milagro's son
BlessedAmerican's nephew David
Jewels1091's daughter's friends, Ross and Chris
Jewels1091's cousin Phil
Maigrey's cousin C. C.
Condi2008's friend J.D.
TruthNTegrity's brother John and his family
TruthNtegrity's friend’s nephew Ben
Hoosiermama's students: Brad and his brother Jeff, Bill and another Bill, and Shanty and Josh
notpoliticallycorewrecked's husband
notpoliticallycorewrecked's military email buddies
Wneighbor's son-in-law Thomas
zlala's brother
tamikamaria's cousin Annette
tamikamaria's best friend’s brother and sister
Radix's son
Pippin's niece and nephew
WomanofStandard's dear friend's three sons, Dustin, Troy, and Tyler
baseballmom's friend’s nephew, Thomas
a special Freeper's brother
hoosier_RW_conspirator's friend’s son Danny
ivoteright's husband, who is also I’m ALL Right's brother-in-law
kemathen7's boyfriend, John
GretchenEE's dear friend's son Silas
Warriormom's dear friend Greg
Per-Ling and his family
leenie312's son Nicholas
rintense's friend's brother Brian
JulieRNR21's friend's grandson Wesley
Severa's husband, FReeper Hostel
Severa's brother Wes
Severa's friend Tosca
Hostel's cousin David
lizbet's cousin's son Marc
jtill's friend P.A. and his family
AF_Blue and his family
seams2me's adopted servicemen Trey, David, Cody, and Darby and their families
CENTVRIO EQVITVM and his loved ones
Reagan's Mom's brother-in-law Dave
Judith Anne's friend Deana's son
Judith Anne's daughter-in-law's two brothers
AFPhys
AFPhys's friend C.M.
olliemb's two young patients now serving
Pastor Mike's brother Tom
Dale's son Dean
Cindy's stepson Adam
Jim and Terri's son Stephen
Joy's son Michael
patriciaruth's cousin Ed
Marvin and Carolyn's son Alan
KitJ
AntiJen's friend Mark
AntiJen's neighbors Jason, Justin, and Jack
Stand 4 something's husband Mike and son Scott.
LKR59's grandchildren Timmy, John, and Karen
TigerCap's coworker Kevin
TexasCowboy's niece Misty and his friend Jason.
bigeasy's friend's husband
fc2tomschermuly
fatima's granddaughter Karen
fatima's email friend Jim
fatima's friend's daughter-in-law Patty and a friend's son Adam
pollywog's nephew Jonathan
spirited's friend Rebecca's three siblings

(TN) Memphis' J.H.
(NJ) West New York's E.C.
(CA) Rosalie's M.C. and Fresno's B.H.
(CT) New Milord's E.P.
(NH) Twin Mountain's E.A.
(WI) Jim Falls' M.O.
USA's S.M, K.A.,
Arizona's S.B.
Michigan's D.M.
New York's E.E.
Wisconsin's J.D.

Dearest Heavenly Father, we pray for our leaders. Please grant them wisdom in these perilous times. Please protect them and their families and their nations as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death with the hope that Your will be done. Let the Holy Spirit inspire them with Your knowledge and give them sleep to renew their strength.

President George W. Bush
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar

Holy Spirit, we pray for reassurance and understand for the suffering people of Iraq. Please bless them and be within them.

Especially we remember Samara's family in Baghdad.

Heavenly Father, God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, please bless and have mercy on all the sons and daughters of Abraham residing in the Middle East. Especially we remember the people of Israel, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, U.A.E., Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and Turkey. And forgive us our sins as we forgive Syria and Lebanon and Iran.

Heavenly Father, please bless and protect Americans working in the Middle Eastern area. We especially remember and pray for Goodnesswins' brother

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