O God of every generation,
You brought a priest from Midian to remind Your servant of truth.
Jethro did not come with armies or gold,
but with a listening ear and plain words.
He sat at the table,
hearing of plagues and seas,
of chains broken and freedom given,
and he lifted his voice to bless You
“Now I know the LORD is greater than all gods.”
Lord, how we need such voices again.
Too often in the Church of today
we celebrate noise but ignore wisdom.
We run ourselves ragged,
leaders burning from morning till night,
believing that exhaustion is proof of holiness.
But You send fathers in the faith,
mothers in the Spirit,
to warn us: this way will destroy both you and the people.
Yet, O God, we confess our pride.
We despise counsel when it challenges our ways.
We resist accountability because it feels like weakness.
We crave control more than community.
We burden one shepherd with what belongs to the flock.
We wear out the very leaders You have given,
then wonder why the Church limps and bleeds.
Have mercy, Lord.
Raise up men and women who fear You,
who love truth more than reputation,
who cannot be bought by flattery or bribes.
Send us elders who stand firm,
mentors who rejoice in Your works,
friends who tell us hard truths in love.
Give us ears to listen.
Give us humility to obey.
O God, tear down our arrogance.
Teach us that one voice cannot bear the weight of the whole camp.
Teach us that You delight in a body, not a superstar.
Teach us to share the load so that Your people may flourish.
In the American Church, silence the lie that bigger is always better,
that endless striving proves our devotion.
Remind us that wisdom often comes
in the quiet voice of an old priest,
over a simple meal,
in counsel we did not expect.
Lord, save us from ourselves.
Make us a people who celebrate Your victories together
and carry one another’s burdens with joy.
Let every act of shared labor testify
the LORD alone is greater than all gods.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
the true Shepherd who calls many under-shepherds,
the Servant who shares His yoke with us,
Amen.