Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Opening Prayer
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know my words before I speak them. You know my past, my present, and my future. Awaken me now, to seek you while you may be found, to call upon you while you are near, and to live a life that brings glory to your name.
Confession of Sin & Prayer for Grace
Almighty God: because of Christ’s blood, do not hold against me, poor sinner that I am, any of my sin, or of the evil that constantly clings to me. By myself I am too weak to stand on my own even for a moment. And my sworn enemies - the world, the flesh, and the devil - never stop attacking me. Uphold me and make me strong with the strength of your Holy Spirit, so that I may not go down to defeat in this spiritual struggle, but may firmly resist my enemies until I finally win the complete victory, through Jesus Christ my Lord: Amen.
Pause to confess specifically any sins the Holy Spirit may be convicting you about.
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 60:10-22
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: Jude 17-25
Prayer of Adoration
God: I adore and worship you because you are the only God, our Savior. You are the One who is able to keep me from stumbling and present me blameless before you on the last day. To you be glory, now and forever.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 31
Prayer of Consecration
Father in heaven: as your son Jesus drew His last breath, He prayed this very Psalm: “into your hands, I commit my spirit.” His prayer in suffering teaches me to do the same. I confess that I expect my circumstances to be easy and my life to go well. My culture speaks endlessly of prosperity, health, and success, as though these are the norm. These things are good gifts from you, to be received with gratitude when they come; but to always expect them distorts the reality that the world is broken. Our lives are subject to all kinds of trouble. So help me not to find myself surprised and resentful when life brings difficulty. Help me reckon honestly with suffering, without giving way to entitlement. You have redeemed me and brought me near to yourself, through the suffering of your son. Give me the will and capacity to trust you all the more deeply even when I suffer. In your name, Amen.
Take time now specifically to intercede for yourself, your neighbors, your church, your city, and the world, bringing your needs and the needs of others before the Lord.
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.
