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 81
1 O sing merrily unto God our strength;
make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2 Take the psalm, bring hither the timbrel,
the merry harp with the lute.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
even in the time appointed, and on our solemn feast day.
4 For this was made a statute for Israel
and a law of the God of Jacob.
5 This he laid upon Joseph for a testimony,
when he came out of the land of Egypt.
6 “I eased his shoulder from the burden,
and his hands were delivered from bearing the load.
7 You called upon me in troubles, and I delivered you,
and I answered you in the thundercloud and tested you at the waters of strife.
8 Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, if you will hearken unto me,
9 There shall be no strange god among you,
neither shall you worship any other god.
10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt;
open your mouth wide, and I shall fill it.
11 But my people would not hear my voice,
and Israel would not obey me.
12 So I gave them up to the stubbornness of their hearts,
and let them follow their own imaginations.
13 Oh, that my people would have hearkened unto me,
that Israel had walked in my ways.
14 I would soon have put down their enemies
and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15 The haters of the Lord would humble themselves before him,
and their time of punishment would endure for ever.
16 But Israel would I feed with the finest wheat-flour,
and with honey out of the stony rock would I satisfy him.”
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 has your family done over this past year that has blessed you?
Intercession Prompt
Take a few minutes and pray for your needs and the needs of those around you.
Closing Prayer
O Lord, thank you for dwelling with us in the midst of the longings of this world. Help me to hold today as a gift. Your grace covers yesterday. Your Spirit holds tomorrow. Today I am thankful that you are with me. Help me to be more alive to the reality of your presence. Amen.