Tuesday, May 23, 2023
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: 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: Zechariah 14
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: Colossians 1:1-21
Prayer of Adoration:
Lord Jesus, I adore you as the exalted, preeminent, ruler of everything. All things were created through you and for you; in you everything holds together. I worship you as the head of the church, the firstborn of all creation, the image of the invisible God.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 47
Prayer of Consecration
God: you are King over all the earth, and I rejoice in you. In you, evil is subdued, sin is defeated, and death itself has died. The true king is on the throne - and because of that, Lord, I know I have nothing to fear! So today, I ask that you would help me to live fully in light of this reality. Allow my emotions, thoughts, attitudes, and actions to align with the truth of your sovereign rule. May I be fully submitted to King Jesus, and may my life be saturated with His peace and joy and happiness. 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.
