Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Dec 12

Opening Prayer:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Confession of Sin & Prayer for Grace

Merciful Father, although you have promised me everlasting joy, I confess that I am often lazy, apathetic, and hard-hearted. Deliver me, O God, from a slothful mind, from all lukewarmness, and all dejection of spirit. I know these cannot but deaden my love to you; mercifully free my heart from them, and give me a lively, zealous, active, and cheerful spirit; that I may vigorously perform whatever you command, thankfully suffer whatever you choose for me, and be ardent to obey your holy love in all things.

Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 8

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: Matthew 11:2-11

Prayer of Adoration:

Lord Jesus, I adore you, for you are the fulfillment of all the law and the prophets. In you, the blind receive their sight; the lame walk; the deaf hear; the dead are raised up; and the poor have good news preached to them. The promises of God have been answered; the Kingdom has come!

Psalm Reading: Psalm 28

Prayer of Consecration

All through this day, O Lord, be my strength and my refuge. May the peace of Christ be within me, around me, before and behind me, to guide my speech, my thoughts, and my actions. Since Christ has secured my peace with God, I will rest. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped. Oh Lord, remind me again that you are sufficient for the requirements of the day. Give my this day my daily bread. Fill me with a deep sense of your friendship. You are the one who knows what life is like for me, because you dwell within me and have joined your life to mine.

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.