Monday, February 19, 2024
Opening Prayer:
Lord God Almighty: Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things in your law. Open my ears, that I may tremble at your Word. Open my lips, that my mouth may declare your praise. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. For you I wait all the day long.
Confession of Sin & Prayer for Grace
Lord Jesus, I confess to you the shallowness of my repentance. I am content to deal with surface sins, rather than exploring the dark contours of my inner being. I am content to offer words of repentance, rather than bringing forth the fruit of repentance. Humble me greatly today. Reveal to me the depth of my depravity and the strength of my idolatry, that I may drink more deeply of your mercy and delight more fully in the beauty of Jesus Christ my Savior. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 9:1-17
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 8:27-9:1
Prayer of Adoration:
Lord Jesus, I bow before you as God’s anointed King. Your claim on me is total, and as your disciple I submit my whole life to you. Thank you for the a salvation that is worth more than the whole world.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 10
Prayer of Consecration
O Lord, thank you that your word offers a spacious invitation to human confusion and complaint. As I pray along, I find myself learning to be more honest with you about my troubles, doubts, and frustrations. At the same time, the psalm grounds itself resolutely in your goodness and care, teaching me to persist in hope. These two streams flow together. My world isn’t very different from the one described in this psalm. I, too, see injustice and exploitation all around, seemingly unchecked. But before I deplore the sins of others, Lord, give me insight into my own soul, that I might deplore sin in myself first. I pray with the psalmist: “Arise, O Lord, and lift up your hand.” Let justice roll down for the oppressed and the fatherless. Purify my interior being, so that I might live and work as a citizen of your kingdom, with your ways alive and vibrant in my soul.
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.
