Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Jun 15

Opening Prayer:

Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things in your law.

Confession of Sin & Prayer for Grace

Merciful Father, although you have promised me everlasting joy, 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: Genesis 21:8-21

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: Mark 3:20-35

Prayer of Adoration:

Jesus: I praise you that you are the strong man, who has bound Satan and plundered his house. Your kingdom puts darkness to flight; your power destroys demonic influence and brings healing and life to those who are troubled.

Psalm Reading: Psalm 77:11-20

Prayer of Consecration

God: this Psalm looks back to the Exodus as the foundational redemptive act in history. You triumphed over Egypt; you redeemed your people; you parted the sea. Thank you that your redemption is historical - you accomplish real acts in actual time and space that change history! And thank you that the Exodus from Egypt foreshadowed a greater Exodus to come - the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to lead sinners out of bondage and into freedom. Today, help me expect you to show up in the actual history of my life. Open my eyes right now to the hints of your providence; the reality of your presence; and the possibility of your direct intervention in my life. Forgive me for seeing your great redemptive acts as things that happened “back then;” give me the grace to expect your activity right now, today, in MY life, and in our church. “You are the God who works wonders;” open my eyes to your wonders today.

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.