Thursday, March 7, 2024
Opening Prayer:
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
Confession of Sin & Prayer for Grace
Heavenly Father, you made me for your glory, redeemed me by your Son, and sealed me with your Spirit. Grounded in this new identity, I make my confession before you. I grieve today the many expressions of my self-centeredness. I am self-loving; self-serving; self-protecting; self-righteous; and self-interested. The habits of my heart revolve around SELF; and so your glory does not shine brightly from my life. By your grace, forgive my sin and conquer my selfishness. Establish your Son as the king of my heart and the center of my life. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 17:1-16
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: Hebrews 5:5-10
Prayer of Adoration:
Lord Jesus: I adore you for your humility. Because of your obedience, you were exalted and made perfect; by faith, your obedience becomes my obedience, and I am made perfect! Thank you for being my high priest and the source of eternal salvation.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 86
Prayer of Consecration
O Lord, I humbly ask you to incline your ear and listen to my prayer today. Because you are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, I boldly ask you to turn to me and be gracious to me. Your word teaches me to pray this way. Lord, I need your abundant grace for the day ahead. Teach me to cry out to you all day long, both to express my need and to experience your companionship. With the Psalmist, I say: Teach me your way, that I may walk in your truth. My heart is drawn in many conflicting directions. Unite my inmost being to revere and honor your name. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord: nor are there any works like yours. Make me fully yours today, and help me walk in ways that bring glory and honor to you.
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.
