Prayer is not an argument with God to persuade him to move things our way, but an exercise by which we are enabled by his Spirit to move ourselves his way. (Leonard Ravenhill)
This Week’s Scripture · Acts 10:34-43 · Psalm 118:1-24 · Colossians 3:1-4 · John 20:1-18 Adoration Psalm 118:8-9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart (verses 1-5) Rejoice, ye pure in heart; rejoice give thanks and sing; your glorious banner wave on high, the cross of Christ your King. Praise God who reigns on high, the Lord whom we adore, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God forever more. Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing. (Edward H. Plumptre) Take time now to offer God your praise and worship. Confession To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:43) Lord, through the resurrection of Christ you freed us from the powers of darkness and evil. In Christ, you opened the way for us to enter your Holy Kingdom. Forgive us when we have failed to walk where you would send us, to love when our loving could have made a difference, or to be your voice of peace in the world today. In Christ we pray. Amen. (James R. Wilson) As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thanksgiving God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have not only raised our Lord from the dead, but you have raised me as well. Therefore, you have called me to seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at your right hand. Thank you for such a glorious, yet humbling command. You have also called me to set my mind on things above. Please help me in this endeavor as I am inclined to set my mind on the temporal and fallen things of this world. But when you remind me that I have died to such things and that my life is now hidden with Christ, I can’t help but rejoice and give you glory. For Christ is my very life and when he appears, I too will appear with him in glory. Father, this is more than I can comprehend, but I am joyfully overwhelmed by what I do understand of it. For all of this and more, I give you thanks. Amen. (based on Colossians 3:1-4) Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life. Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself) · Give me greater knowledge, depth of insight, and understanding of God’s Word. · Remind me daily of who I am in Christ. Let me be defined by who God says I am, not the world around me. · Guide me into greater understanding and faithfulness of God’s call in my life. · Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned · Other needs Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others) · My family · My pastor(s), church staff, and missionaries · Those wrestling with anger, anxiety, or the overwhelming desire to please people at all costs · Other needs Only God can put the touch on something that changes it from the common place to something special, different and apart. (R.C. Sproul)
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Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to Satan.
(John Bunyan) This Week’s Scripture · Isaiah 50:4-9a · Psalm 31:9-16 · Philippians 2:5-11 · Matthew 27:11-54 Adoration Psalm 31:14-15a But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hand; From Lift High the Cross (verse 1) Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name. Come, Christians, follow, this triumphant sign. The hosts of God in unity combine. (George William Kitchin and Michael Robert Newbolt) Take time now to offer God your praise and worship. Confession 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8) God of salvation, you have sent us One of our own to suffer for our sakes. Prepare us to receive again the glorious gift that is ours by Jesus’ self-sacrifice, so that, impressed anew by his willing humiliation on our behalf, we may be moved to live as people truly redeemed by his cross. In the name of that Suffering Servant we pray. Amen. (Paul A. Laughlin) As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thanksgiving Merciful Redeemer, when I am in distress, wasted from grief, spent with sorrow, or my strength fails because of my iniquity and my bones feel as though they are wasting away, you are still gracious to me. You have promised to never leave me nor forsake me. When it appears that people are against me or I have been forgotten by others, even those close to me, I will trust in you, for you are my God. My times are in your hands and you will rescue me. For these and all the countless times in which you have made your face shine on me and poured out your steadfast love upon me, I give you thanks dear Lord. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen. (based on Psalm 31:9-16) Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life. Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself) · Help me to grow in wisdom and become who you created and redeemed me to be. · Renew my mind and enable me to cultivate a godly perspective and attitude regarding the various spheres and circumstances of my life. · Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned · Other needs Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others) · My family, immediate and extended · Those struggling with sin, illness, or difficulties in their workplace · Other needs God’s promises are sealed to us, but not dated. (Susanna Wesley) Prayer is not the fruit of natural talents; it is the product of faith, of holiness, of deeply spiritual character. (E.M. Bounds)
This Week’s Scripture · Ezekiel 37:1-14 · Psalm 130 · Romans 8:6-11 · John 11:1-45 Adoration John 11:25-26a 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Jesus Shall Reign (verse 1) Jesus shall reign where’er the sun does its successive journeys run. his kingdom spread from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more. (Isaac Watts) Take time now to offer God your praise and worship. Confession For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:7-8) Lord give me the repentance which is of the will, that, not only in desire but also in intention and effort I may embrace what is good, especially those virtues which once I neglected or refused, and so be endued with power to accept thy pardon; through Jesus Christ our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. (Bishop Brent) As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thanksgiving O Lord, you hear our cries when we call out to you. You hear our voices and are attentive to our pleas for mercy. We give you thanks. God of grace, you do not mark our iniquities, for if you did, who could stand? Instead, with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. We give you thanks. Because in you there is hope, we will wait upon you. We give you thanks. Lord, with you there is steadfast love and plentiful redemption. We praise you good and sovereign Lord that you will redeem us from all our iniquities. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen. (based on Psalm 130) Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life. Supplication (Petition – prayers for yourself) · Help me to mature in my faith and to increasingly please God by my thoughts, words, and deeds. · Particular struggles in various relationships · My activities for this day · Other needs Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others) · My Family · My local church · My denomination · Para-church ministries, particularly Christian education and discipleship · Evangelistic ministries · Other needs God is too kind to do anything cruel, too wise to make a mistake, too deep to explain himself. (Charles Swindoll) Prayer does not enable us to do a greater work for God. Prayer is a greater work for God.
(Thomas Chalmers) This Week’s Scripture · 1 Samuel 16:1-13 · Psalm 23 · Ephesians 5:8-14 · John 9:1-41 Adoration Psalm 23:1-3a The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (verse 1) All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all. Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all. (Edward Perronet) Take time now to offer God your praise and worship. Confession Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. (Ephesians 5:8b-13) Merciful Lord, deliver me from idolatrous love of created things or beings. Keep me from loving anything of this world except in service to my love for you, and only as far as love for you will allow. Above all, my God, deliver me from an idolatrous love of self. I know that you made me to do your will, not mine, and to love myself, as all other created things, only as it serves love for you. Amen. (John Wesley) As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thanksgiving My Lord and Shepherd, thank you for providing for all my needs, and even lavishing upon me green pastures and still waters. You have restored my soul and you continue to lead me down the right path for the sake of your glory. For that, dear God, I thank you. I am humbled that even in the valley of the shadow of death, I do not have to fear, for I am under your protection and loving care. In fact, more than that, you offer your good gifts to me even in the midst of trials and tribulations. My cup surely overflows. Thank you, O God, for the abundant life you have given me in this world and for the promise of an eternity in your unveiled presence. In the name of the Shepherd and Lover of my soul I pray. Amen. (based on Psalm 23) Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life. Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself) · Spiritual Warfare · Growth in Christlikeness · Increasing faithfulness in the spiritual disciplines · My health · For my ordinary appointments and activities to become divine appointments and activities. · Other needs Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others) · My Family · Mercy for those who are poor and hungry · Justice for those who are oppressed and persecuted · Peace for those in the midst of war, crime, and violence · Other needs O God, may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord.” (The United Methodist Book of Worship) Prayer catapults us onto the frontier of the spiritual life (Richard Foster)
This Week’s Scripture · Exodus 17:1-7 · Psalm 95 · Romans 5:1-11 · John 4:5-42 Adoration Psalm 95:1-2 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! I Sing the Almighty Power of God (verse 1) I sing the almighty power of God, that made the mountains rise, that spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies. I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day; the moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey. (Isaac Watts) Take time now to offer God your praise and worship. Confession For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8) Lord, so often we have experienced the hard times in life and complained rather than sought what you would have us to learn through them. Too often we have been quick to protest and give up hope instead of leaning on our faith and turning to your leadership. Forgive us, Lord, and give us the courage to proclaim your Lordship and trust you always. In Christ we pray. Amen. (James R. Wilson) As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thanksgiving God of grace and steadfast love, not because of anything I did to deserve it, but because of who you are, you have declared that I am righteous because of the imputed righteousness of your Son. I thank you for the peace I now have with you through my Lord Jesus Christ. By faith I now have access to you and am able to stand, by grace, and rejoice in the hope of your glory. I can now even rejoice in my sufferings, which lead to endurance, character and more hope. And I praise you that this hope will never be put to shame because your love has been poured into my heart, through your Spirit, whom you have so lovingly and generously given to me. Thank you Father. Amen. (based on Romans 5:1-5) Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life. Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself) · My personal mission field Ø Help me to identify those people who make up my personal mission field. Ø Enable me to begin sharing the gospel with those who do not yet know you. Ø Empower me to disciple those who are young in their faith. Ø Allow me to encourage those who are struggling in their faith. Ø Please give me perseverance in all areas of ministry. · Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned · Other needs Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others) · My family · For missionaries throughout the world · For those seeking to faithfully minister to loved ones at home · For those who share the gospel in the inner city · For those who bear witness to Christ in places of power · Other needs O God, help us to remember that there is no time when you will fail us, and no moment, when we do not need you. Amen. (William Barclay) Prayer can do anything that God can do. (E.M. Bounds)
This Week’s Scripture · Genesis 12:1-4 · Psalm 121 · Romans 4:1-17 · John 3:1-17 Adoration Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. This Is My Father’s World (verse 1) This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; his hand the wonders wrought. (Maltbie D. Babcock) Take time now to offer God your praise and worship. Confession “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” (Romans 4:7-8) God of mercy, we confess how seldom we have the belief and confession of Jesus Christ both on our lips and in our hearts. For when we feel the Word within, we often fail to speak it; and when we speak it, we sometimes are just paying lip service, without the faith to back it up. Forgive us, O God, and plant the Word so firmly within us, that we shall be able neither to ignore it nor to keep it to ourselves. In the name of Jesus the Word we pray. Amen. (Paul Laughlin) As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thanksgiving Father of our salvation, we give you praise for the great love that caused you to look at this dark, dying, and lost world with compassion and mercy. We thank you that you did not even withhold the One you love and treasure above all else, your Son, Jesus Christ. Instead, you gave him as a ransom for many, that we who believe in him should not perish but have eternal life. We are grateful that his mission was not to condemn the world, which would have been perfectly just and right, but to save the world through him. In his most holy and gracious name we pray. Amen. (based on John 3:16-17) Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life. Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself) · Lord, help me to faithfully participate in the life of my congregation and for the sake of my community… Ø By my prayers Ø By my presence Ø By my gifts Ø By my service Ø By my witness · Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned · Other needs Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others) · My family · For those who serve in government, at the national, state, and local levels · For those who serve in law-enforcement · For those who serve in fire and rescue · For those who serve in our nation’s military · Other needs “Rend your hearts and not your garments,” says the Lord. Return to the Lord your God! (The Book of Worship for Church and Home) Pray as you can, for prayer doesn’t consist of thinking a great deal, but of loving a great deal.
(Saint Teresa of Avila) This Week’s Scripture · Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 · Psalm 32 · Romans 5:12-19 · Matthew 4:1-11 Adoration Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Great Is Thy Faithfulness (verse 1) Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee. thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not; as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be. Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me! (Thomas Chisholm) Take time now to offer God your praise and worship. Confession Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit (Psalm 32:1-2) O Lord, Deliver me from everything that keeps me from loving you fully and completely. Deliver me from the desires, ambitions, and emotions that draw me away from serving you and pleasing you in all parts of my life. Deliver me from being half-hearted in my devotion to you, in my prayers and reading of your Word, and in my service to you. Keep my desire for you and for serving you ever growing, ever burning. Amen. (John Wesley) As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thanksgiving Beautiful Savior, we praise you for the free gift of salvation offered to us at great cost to you. We love and adore you for our redemption, grounded in the grace of the Person and Work of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of our sinfulness, Christ’s free gift brought our justification. We praise you for the active righteousness of our Savior, your Son. We thank you that he won our salvation, not only through his death and resurrection, but also through his life of perfect obedience. Thus, by faith, his righteousness becomes our own. That’s more that we can even comprehend, and vastly more than we deserve, but we glorify you for your goodness and grace. In his holy name we pray. Amen. (based on Romans 5:15-19) Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life. Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself) · Give me greater love for those who are hard to love. · Help me to be compassionate and kind to those in need, even when it’s inconvenient. · Pour out upon me your courage and boldness to love those who do not know you and to share with them your Gospel, in word and deed. · Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned · Other needs Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others) · My family · My family and friends who do not have a saving relationship with Christ · For those in my other spheres of influence who do not know Christ · For evangelists around our city, country, and world who risk much in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those who are lost · Other needs Help me today, my Lord, to discover your good, perfect, and acceptable will and to focus all of my desire and energy upon doing it. (Reuben Job) Our prayers are only as powerful as our lives. In the long pull we pray only as well as we live. (A.W. Tozer)
This Week’s Scripture · Exodus 24:12-18 · Psalm 99 · 2 Peter 1:16-21 · Matthew 17:1-9 Adoration Psalm 99:1-3 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (verse 1) Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation! All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near; join me in glad adoration! (Joachim Neander) Take time now to offer God your praise and worship. Confession O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy! (Psalm 99:8-9) Lord, so often as we come to you, the plea in our hearts is that you do our will and not for you to show us yours. So often our hearts have been closed to your leading and we have missed so many opportunities to be blessings to others and to be blessed ourselves. Forgive us, Lord, and help us have the courage to open our hearts to you. In Christ we pray. Amen. (James R. Wilson) As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thanksgiving Majestic and glorious Father, we give you our thanks and praise that you did not leave us to grope blindly through this dark world but have continually given us your light. We thank you for the way you have disclosed yourself and your will to us through the prophets and apostles. We are grateful that your Spirit filled, moved, and spoke through them so that what we now have in Holy Scripture is exactly what you want us to know about you and your ways. But most especially we worship and adore you for the Light of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We thank you that his light has become our light and because of him, we can truly see you, this world, and ourselves as you intend. For it is in the name of Christ, the Light of the world, we offer this prayer. Amen. (based on 2 Peter 1:16-21) Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life. Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself) · Give me greater knowledge, depth of insight, and understanding of God’s Word. · Remind me daily of who I am in Christ. Let me be defined by who God says I am, not the world around me. · Guide me into greater understanding and faithfulness of God’s call in my life. · Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned · Other needs Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others) · My family · My pastor(s), church staff, and missionaries · Those wrestling with anger, anxiety, or the overwhelming desire to please people at all costs · Other needs Gracious Lord, satisfy us with your love in the morning, and we will live this day in joy and praise. (Daily Prayer) Never make the blunder of trying to forecast the way God is going to answer your prayer.
(Oswald Chambers) This Week’s Scripture · Leviticus 19:1-18 · Psalm 119:33-40 · 1 Corinthians 3:10-23 · Matthew 5:38-48 Adoration Leviticus 19:1-4 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. 3 Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. 4 Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God. From All My Hope Is Firmly Grounded (verse 1) All my hope is firmly grounded in the great and living Lord; who, whenever I most need him, never fails to keep his word. God I must wholly trust, God the ever good and just. (Joachim Neander) Take time now to offer God your praise and worship. Confession Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! 37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. (Psalm 119:36-37) All-compassionate God, we humbly acknowledge that we have taken sin lightly, that we have let it penetrate into the very depths of ourselves, and that apart from your grace we are helpless to do any deed good enough to merit salvation. Forgive us, please, and give us a better sense of the extent and effects of sin in our lives, so that we may be open and receptive to the divine grace that is our only hope for redemption and life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. (Paul A. Laughlin) As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thanksgiving O Lord, we give you thanks that you have not left us in the dark to grope blindly through this world. Instead, in your grace and love you have given us your commandments. Help us keep them to the end. Enable us, in your strength, to keep your law and observe it with all our heart. Lead us with your Spirit so that we are not merely doing our duty, but delighting in walking the path you have set before us. Turn us away from the worthless things in this world which distract and lead us astray, and instead, give us the fullness of life you have promised us in Christ our Lord. For it is in his name for his sake we pray. Amen. (from Psalm 119:33-40) Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life. Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself) · Help me to grow in wisdom and become who you created and redeemed me to be. · Renew my mind and enable me to cultivate a godly perspective and attitude regarding the various spheres and circumstances of my life. · Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned · Other needs Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others) · My family, immediate and extended · Those struggling with sin, illness, or difficulties in their workplace · Other needs Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! (Psalm 119:40) Much of our praying is just asking God to bless some folks that are ill and to keep us plugging along. But prayer is not merely prattle: it is warfare. (Alan Redpath)
This Week’s Scripture · Deuteronomy 30:15-20 · Psalm 119:1-8 · 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 · Matthew 1:21-37 Adoration Psalm 119:1-2 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought (verse 1) He leadeth me: O blessed thought! O words with heavenly comfort fraught! Whate’er I do, where’er I be, still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me. (Joseph H. Gilmore) Take time now to offer God your praise and worship. Confession “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. (Deuteronomy 30:15-18) Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary) As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thanksgiving God of the harvest, you call some of us to plant the seeds of the Gospel of the kingdom. Others of us you move to water the seed to bring the increase. And still, you beckon others to nurture and cultivate that which is already growing. In and through this process, it is you who gives the growth. We give you thanks that you call us to be a part of bringing others to new life in Christ. Yet, we are reminded, O Lord, that it is you and you alone who are sovereign over such things. We are called to be faithful to the Great Commission, but always trusting in you to bring forth fruit. In Christ’s holy name we pray. Amen. (from 1 Corinthians 3:5-9) Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life. Supplication (Petition – prayers for yourself) · Help me to mature in my faith and to increasingly please God by my thoughts, words, and deeds. · Particular struggles in various relationships · My activities for this day · Other needs Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others) · My Family · My local church · My denomination · Para-church ministries, particularly Christian education and discipleship · Evangelistic ministries · Other needs Lord we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same. (Thomas Cranmer) |
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