Monday, June 3, 2024
Opening Prayer:
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Confession of Sin & Prayer for Grace
Merciful God, I confess before you that I have sinned. I have sinned in what I have thought and said; in the wrong I have done and in the good I have not done. I have sinned in ignorance; I have sinned in weakness; I have sinned through my own deliberate fault. I repent and turn to you. Forgive me, for the sake of my merciful Savior Jesus. By your Spirit, transform my desires, renew my affections, and strengthen my obedience, for the glory of your name.
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7
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 9:35-10:23
Prayer of Adoration:
Lord Jesus: I adore you for entrusting your ministry to the Twelve disciples. Because you are the Lord of Glory, you can use ordinary, unimpressive people to accomplish your will. And that means you can use even me! I worship you, and I offer myself to you as a willing servant.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 42
Prayer of Consecration
O God, this Psalm is written by one who is cast down and dejected. And my own soul, too, is often cast down within me. This Psalm gives me language to speak to myself: “Why are you cast down, o my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Hope in God!” I confess, Father, that often I wallow in my discouragement rather than preaching the good news to myself. Help me to follow the example of the Psalmist, calling my soul to rejoice in you. And thank you for sending Jesus, the gentle Savior who does not break the bruised reed or extinguish the smoldering wick. Thank you that when I do not feel strong, courageous, or happy, I can lean on the strength, courage, and joy of my Savior. Today, I will hope in you, my salvation and my God.
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.
