Saturday, May 4, 2024
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: I cannot keep silent about my sin; when I do, my bones waste away and your hand is heavy upon me. So I will acknowledge my sin to you, and I will not cover my iniquity. Today, I acknowledge the sin of ENTITLEMENT. I live with a demanding spirit that grabs, clutches, and expects, rather than with a generous spirit that thanks you and blesses others. Forgive me, O Lord, by the mercy of Jesus, who did not regard equality with you as something to be grasped, but emptied himself that I might be filled. Fill me up today with the freedom and joy of grace, for Your name’s sake: Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Hosea 11
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: 1 Peter 2:13-25
Prayer of Adoration:
Lord Jesus, I adore you because you suffered for me, leaving me an example, that I might follow in your steps. Thank you for the beauty of your obedience. When reviled, you did not revile in return; when you suffered, you did not threaten. I adore you for bearing our sins in your body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 148
Prayer of Consecration
God, the Psalmist calls everything around him to praise you. And indeed, you are worthy of extravagant praise! As I ponder this Psalm, I am convicted of my tepid praise; of my half-hearted worship; of my timidity to call the world to praise you. So today, awaken a hunger in me to praise you more deeply. And awaken courage in me, that I might unashamedly call others to join in praising you. The fact is, the world around me is FULL of praise; it’s just that people are praising the wrong things. They are exalting the creation over the Creator, and delighting in the gift rather than enjoying the Giver. Everyone praises something. So let me praise YOU today, with all of my being; let me lead your people to praise you, through my enthusiastic worship on the Lord’s Day; and let me invite the world to praise you as I boldly proclaim the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.
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.
