The Daily Liturgy Podcast
Friday, April 2, 2021
Opening Prayer:
O Lord, you have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn me away in anger. Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.
Confession of Sin & Prayer for Grace
Lord Jesus: it is the day of your death. And on this day, I confess that I was complicit in your murder. It was my sin that nailed your hands to the cross; my wickedness that pressed the thorns into your brow; my pride that stabbed the spear into your side. I cried out for your crucifixion; I mocked and spit upon you.
Yet it was for me that you said, “Father, forgive them;” it was for me that you said, “It is finished.” With the thief on the cross I see your great love, and I plead, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” It is I, not you, who deserve condemnation. Forgive my great sin, and receive me through your mercy. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory forever. Amen.
New Testament Reading: Mark 15:21-41
Prayer of Adoration:
Lord Jesus: in the shame, scorn, and humiliation of the cross, I adore you. There you hang, mocked, beaten, reviled, and abandoned; and yet beautiful. What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?
Psalm Reading: Psalm 22
Prayer of Consecration
Lord Jesus: this Psalm, more than any other, foretells your death. All those who saw you mocked you, wagging their heads and saying, “he trusts in God; let God deliver him.” But Father: you DIDN’T deliver your son. He was poured out like water. His bones went out of joint. His heart melted like wax. His clothes were divided. His hands and feet were pierced. And all of this, so that the offspring of Israel might stand in awe of him, and all the ends of the earth might turn to him. I will gaze on Jesus’ suffering in my heart today, remembering that he suffered for me. Amen.
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.
Thursday, April 1, 2021
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
Lord Jesus: on this Maundy Thursday, I confess my abandonment of you. Like your disciples who fled in fear, I too have turned my back on you. I have been ashamed to associate with you and unwilling to bear your name courageously before others. I have failed to stand up for what’s right, and I have gone along with the ways of the world. Forgive me, Lord Jesus. In the Last Supper, I see you inviting fearful disciples into fellowship with you, through the cup that represents your costly sacrifice. In this, I know you welcome even me to your Table. And so I come, confident of your forgiveness. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 50
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory forever. Amen.
New Testament Reading: John 18:1-19:16
Prayer of Adoration:
Lord Jesus: I adore you for the agony you endured on my behalf. Who can understand the depth of your suffering? I close my mouth in silence and bow my knee in worship.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 116
Prayer of Consecration
Lord Jesus: as I read this psalm, I hear it as though coming from your lips, and it takes on a fuller and deeper meaning. The Father DID hear your pleas for mercy. He DID free your soul from the snares of death. And because the Father did these things for you, I KNOW he will do them for me. “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” Let me lift high your salvation today, and let me call on you for help - for in so doing, I honor 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.
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
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
O Lord: at the midpoint of this Holy Week, I admit my weariness. Like your disciples who fell asleep in the hour of prayer, I find myself lulled to sleep by the cares of life. Rather than being alert and ready for worship and prayer, I am slothful and slow of heart. Let my weakness remind me that it is you alone that I need. You were alone in the garden; you were alone on the cross; and it is in you alone that I find redemption. So let my weakness drive me to you for strength, and let my weariness remind me of your abundant grace for all the weak and weary. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Exodus 12:1-14
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory forever. Amen.
New Testament Reading: Mark 14:1-42
Prayer of Adoration:
Lord Jesus: you have given me your broken body that my hunger would be filled. You have poured out your blood that my sin would be forgiven. In your death, I am made alive. Thank you for laying down your life so that I could have life.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 70
Prayer of Consecration
Lord Jesus: the Psalms were your prayer book, and you doubtless prayed these words as you suffered for me. Your own people delighted as you were brought low. The same crowds that cheered for you days before encouraged Pilate to crucify you. In my own life, I’m like those people. I’ve called myself a follower of yours, but I deny you with my sin. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for bearing the shame and rejection that I deserved. Give me new allegiance to you as I take up citizenship in your kingdom and identify myself with you. Give me greater confidence in being associated with you, and may your name be always on my lips and your praise always on my tongue. Amen.
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.
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Opening Prayer:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Confession of Sin & Prayer for Grace
Almighty God, as I enter Holy Week, I admit the depth of my distraction. Deep worship comes through deep reflection… but my soul is shallow. I am distracted and worried about many things. My soul lacks the peace and rest to meditate deeply on your cross. Thank you that you died for even this - your sacrifice covers even my weakness in pondering your sacrifice! By Your Spirit, increase my capacity for wonder, rest, and worship, as I set aside these moments to reflect on your Word. Through Jesus Christ, my Savior: Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory forever. Amen.
New Testament Reading: Hebrews 4:14-5:9
Prayer of Adoration:
Jesus, I adore you today as one who deals gently with the weak. You sympathize with my weaknesses, and you welcome me to draw near to find mercy and grace in my time of need. With confident humility, I draw near to you as my merciful high priest!
Psalm Reading: Psalm 71
Prayer of Consecration
O God: as I hear the words of this Psalm, I imagine them on the lips of Jesus as he journeyed toward the cross. The sorrow and distress expressed in this psalm anticipates what he must have experienced in the days before his death. I confess my tendency to avoid suffering and pain; I’m prone to ignore sadness and lament. But this is not the way of Jesus. He was acquainted with sorrow and grief, and never more than when he approached his death. When I’m tempted to acknowledge his suffering intellectually, and not engage it with my soul, I invite you to slow me down, orient my heart, and help me feel. Increase my sensitivity to my own sin, and to the dullness of my affections. And in those times when I labor under an oversized burden of guilt, remind me that Jesus has lifted my burden and I am free. Today, O God, be not far from me; make haste to help me. Let your Spirit work deeply in me, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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.