Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Opening Prayer:
O Lord, God of my salvation, every day I call upon you, in the morning my prayer comes before you. Incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my strength fails. Renew me each morning with your steadfast love, that I may rejoice and be glad all my days.
Confession of Sin & Prayer for Grace
Almighty God: you have commanded me to love my neighbor as myself. But today, as I contemplate my lack of love, I am humbled to the dust. Too often, I avoid others when they bother me. I ignore others when they don’t interest me. I use others when they benefit me. I reject others when they sin against me. My love is shallow and self-serving. Forgive me, O God. Thank you that in Christ, you have loved me with a love incomprehensible. May your love fill me, and transform me, for the glory of your name. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Lamentations 1:17-22
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: Romans 9:30-10:21
Prayer of Adoration:
Jesus Christ: I praise you that everyone who believes in you will not be put to shame. Through your creation and through your Word, your voice has gone out into all the earth, so that all who call on your name may be saved. Thank you for your abundant generosity to those you fear you.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 73
Prayer of Consecration
Lord, this Psalm reminds me that the prosperity of the wicked is short-lived. And I need to be reminded of that, because often the world doesn’t seem fair. The righteous struggle, and the wicked seem to prosper. But stepping back to view things from an eternal perspective, I see things with greater wisdom. Momentary flourishing is different from true happiness. Your justice will prevail; you set the wicked in slippery places and make them fall to ruin. And so I say with the Psalmist today: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” I say this in faith, because actually there ARE things on earth that I desire; but in my heart of hearts, I rest in your goodness. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” In my weakness, you are strong; though my heart is pulled in many directions, you anchor me. Those who are far from you may appear to flourish, but real life is found in being near to you. So today, I remind myself of that truth, and I reach out in faith to embrace your nearness.
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.
