Friday, July 14, 2023

Jul 14

Opening Prayer:

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

Confession of Sin & Prayer for Grace

Almighty God: I cannot keep silent about my sin; when I do, my bones waste away and your hand is heavy upon me. So I will acknowledge my sin to you, and I will not cover my iniquity. Today, I acknowledge the sin of ENTITLEMENT. I live with a demanding spirit that grabs, clutches, and expects, rather than with a generous spirit that thanks you and blesses others. Forgive me, O Lord, by the mercy of Jesus, who did not regard equality with you as something to be grasped, but emptied himself that I might be filled. Fill me up today with the freedom and joy of grace, for Your name’s sake: Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Lamentations 3:1-33

The Lord’s Prayer

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 8

Prayer of Adoration:

Holy God, I adore you for the grace of our Lord Jesus, who, though he was rich, became poor, so that we through his poverty might become rich. Grant me a generous spirit, Lord, that with joy I may earnestly give my time and resources to build your church.

Psalm Reading: Psalm 119:1-24

Prayer of Consecration

Father: in these moments, I seek to store up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I want to love your word more than I do. I want to revere and respect your word more than I do. I want to meditate on your word and give attention to it, that it may shape how I see the world. So even today, let me see your word bearing fruit in my life. Bring the Scriptures to mind throughout the day; let your truth be on my heart and on my tongue. Make your word delightful to me, that I may desire it more than all riches.

BENEDICTION

And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and always, until the day of Christ's return.