Each week for this season our devotions will be centered around the practice of PRAYER. Like the disciples we too have the opportunity to ask Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” We encourage you to read all prayers and Psalms out loud – let the words of Scripture fill your prayers!
Prayer of Confession
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I admit that I have been wrong in thought, in motive and in action. It is only by your grace that I can be freed from my guilty conscience. Please forgive me. Help me to live purely today. Thank you. Amen.
Psalm 108
1 O God, my heart is fixed, my heart is firmly fixed;
I will sing and give praise with the best that I have.
2 Awake, my soul; awake, lute and harp;
I myself will awaken the dawn.
3 I will give thanks unto you, O Lord, among the peoples,
and I will sing praises unto you among the nations,
4 For the greatness of your mercy reaches to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the clouds.
5 Exalt yourself, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.
6 That your beloved may be delivered,
save me by your right hand, and answer me.
7 God has spoken in his holiness:
“I will rejoice and divide Shechem, and parcel out the valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim also is the helmet for my head; Judah is my scepter.
9 Moab is my wash-pot; over Edom will I cast my shoe;
over Philistia will I triumph.”
10 Who will lead me into the strong city,
and who will bring me into Edom?
11 Have you not forsaken us, O God?
And will you not, O God, go forth with our hosts?
12 O help us against the enemy,
for vain is the help of man.
13 Through God we shall do great acts,
for it is he who shall tread down our enemies.
The Lord’s Prayer
Jesus, in teaching the disciples how to pray, prayed the follow prayer in the Gospel of Matthew and Luke. We learn as well as we join with the prayers of Jesus!
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Thanksgiving Prompt
What things made you laugh out loud this week?
Intercession Prompt
Take a few minutes and pray for your needs and the needs of those around you.
Closing Prayer
Father in Heaven, Holy is your name. We pray for your kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Grant us boiling hot spirits, that we may come to love your bride, the holy church, as you do. Deposit within us the humility that Jesus embodied as he was nailed to the cross. When we are tempted to back away, may your Holy Spirit remind us to choose to move forward in humble curiosity, grace, mercy, trust, authenticity and forgiveness. Amen.