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
Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
Psalm 136
1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious,
for his mercy endures for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of all gods,
for his mercy endures for ever.
3 O give thanks unto the Lord of all lords,
for his mercy endures for ever.
4 Who alone does great wonders,
for his mercy endures for ever.
5 Who by his excellent wisdom made the heavens,
for his mercy endures for ever.
6 Who laid out the earth above the waters,
for his mercy endures for ever.
7 Who made the great lights,
for his mercy endures for ever;
8 The sun to rule the day,
for his mercy endures for ever;
9 The moon and the stars to govern the night,
for his mercy endures for ever.
10 Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his mercy endures for ever;
11 And brought out Israel from among them,
for his mercy endures for ever;
12 With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,
for his mercy endures for ever.
13 Who divided the Red Sea in two parts,
for his mercy endures for ever;
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it,
for his mercy endures for ever;
15 But as for Pharaoh and his host, he overthrew them in the Red Sea,
for his mercy endures for ever.
16 Who led his people through the wilderness,
for his mercy endures for ever.
17 Who smote great kings,
for his mercy endures for ever;
18 And slew mighty kings,
for his mercy endures for ever;
19 Sihon king of the Amorites,
for his mercy endures for ever;
20 And Og the king of Bashan,
for his mercy endures for ever;
21 And gave away their land for an inheritance,
for his mercy endures for ever;
22 Even for an inheritance for Israel his servant,
for his mercy endures for ever.
23 Who remembered us when we were in trouble,
for his mercy endures for ever;
24 And delivered us from our enemies,
for his mercy endures for ever.
25 Who gives food to all flesh,
for his mercy endures for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven,
for his mercy endures for ever.
27 O give thanks unto the Lord of lords
for his mercy endures for ever.
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 is something nice another person did for you today or this week?
Intercession Prompt
Take a few minutes and pray for your needs and the needs of those around you.
Closing Prayer
Father, grant me fresh courage to be honest about my sadness, my grief and pain. Jesus, thank you for weeping with us as we weep. Holy Spirit, produce hope within us as we learn to trust you and not the work of our hands or the false promises of the world. Help us to become a people that sincerely trust you to secure the future.