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 59
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;
defend me from those who rise up against me.
2 O deliver me from the evildoers,
and save me from the bloodthirsty.
3 For behold, they lie in wait for my soul;
the mighty are gathered against me, without any offense or fault of mine, O Lord.
4 They run and prepare themselves without cause.
Arise therefore to help me, and behold.
5 Rise up, O Lord God of hosts, O God of Israel, to visit all the nations,
and be not merciful to those who offend with malicious wickedness.
6 They go to and fro in the evening;
they howl like dogs, and run about through the city.
7 Behold, they boast with their mouths, and taunts are on their lips,
for they say, “Who will hear us?”
8 But you, O Lord, shall hold them in derision,
and you shall laugh all the nations to scorn.
9 My strength I will ascribe unto you,
for you are the God of my refuge.
10 God shows me his plenteous goodness,
and God shall let me look in triumph upon my enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget it,
but scatter them abroad by your might, and put them down, O Lord our shield.
12 For the sin of their mouth, and for the words of their lips, they shall be taken in their pride,
because their talk is cursing and lies.
13 Consume them in your wrath; consume them, that they may perish,
and know that it is God who rules in Jacob, and unto the ends of the world.
14 In the evening they will return,
howl like dogs, and run about through the city.
15 They will run here and there for meat
and growl if they are not satisfied.
16 As for me, I will sing of your power, and will praise your mercy early in the morning,
for you have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto you, O my strength, will I sing,
for you, O God, are my refuge, and my merciful God.
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 about your job or life stage are you thankful for?
Intercession Prompt
Take a few minutes and pray for your needs and the needs of those around you.
Closing Prayer
We confess before you that we have not loved the people in your church as well as we should have. And we further ask your forgiveness for caring more about our personal comfort than about providing hospitality to the strangers in our midst. We ask that you would guide us and protect us as we reach out to people both inside and outside of this church body during this difficult time in history to bring your light and love to all whom you place in our paths. Amen