Wednesday, May 24, 2023
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
Almighty God: you have commanded me to love my neighbor as myself. But today, as I contemplate my lack of love, I am humbled to the dust. Too often, I avoid others when they bother me. I ignore others when they don’t interest me. I use others when they benefit me. I reject others when they sin against me. My love is shallow and self-serving. Forgive me, O God. Thank you that in Christ, you have loved me with a love incomprehensible. May your love fill me, and transform me, for the glory of your name. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 60
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: Revelation 7:9-17
Prayer of Adoration:
God, I bow in reverence, for my deepest desire is to worship you. I long for the day when your saints, cleansed, vindicated, and triumphant, will stand before your throne and praise you. In anticipation of that day, I cry out: blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 53
Prayer of Consecration
O God: this Psalm serves as both a comfort and a warning. It is a comfort because it reminds me that you look down from heaven and see the complexity of each human heart. You know who seeks you, and who hates you. It is a warning because it reminds me of the danger of foolishness. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God” - and his stubbornness leads him into sin and rebellion. In light of this warning, I humbly ask that you would give me the grace to continually seek after you and walk closely with you. Keep me from foolishness. Ground my soul in your steadfast love and strengthen me in the hope of salvation. Thank you that salvation for Israel HAS come out of Zion: his name is Jesus Christ, and in Him God has restored the fortunes of his people. Let Jacob rejoice, and let Israel be glad!
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.
