Thursday, November 23, 2023
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
Father, for your steadfast love, I bless you. For your abundant grace, I praise you. For your daily mercies, I trust you. I ask your forgiveness today for my willful lack of love. I have ignored those less capable than me; I have resented those who have wounded me; I have withdrawn from those who are inconvenient and difficult. By Your Spirit, overcome my sin and weakness, and fill me with overflowing love, through the mercy of Jesus Christ my Savior. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Zechariah 9
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: Luke 6:39-7:10
Prayer of Adoration:
I adore you, O God, as the secure foundation of my life. Thank you, Father, for creating me in Your image. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving your words to guide and ground me. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for transforming my inmost being, so that I bear the good fruit of righteousness.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 50
Prayer of Consecration
O God: thank you for your covenantal faithfulness. This Psalm speaks of those who take your covenant on their lips, yet disobey you and cast your words behind them. There are many such people in this world. Let me not be one of them! Help me hear the clear warning you offer to those who give lip-service to you, but deny you by their lives. You are not interested in external religion and dutiful offerings. The world and all its fullness are yours already; you own the cattle on a thousand hills. What you want from your people is loyalty and trusting obedience. So today, reveal to me any hypocrisy that lies in my soul. Show me any places where I’m “casting your words behind me.” Let the stern warnings of this Psalm bring forth a harvest of humility, repentance, and obedience - for my good and your glory.
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.
