Gracious and Forgiving God,
Your abundant grace has been manifested to us every day. Your kindness and mercy have overflowed heaven’s gates and descended upon us. Because of it we have thrived and blossomed like the spring flowers. Not one thing has been withheld from us, but we have received a boundless portion of good things.
We acknowledge that we have been given much, and therefore much is required of us. That is why we bow our heads before you this morning.
We have not sought to glorify you with glad hearts, nor have we given you the thanks that you deserve. We have been forgetful of your many kindnesses and we have not acknowledged your favorable presence in our lives. Much to our shame we have acted like God-deniers. We have mimicked the atheists of the world by our lack of love and homage.
Lord, forgive us for not loving you with all of our heart, mind and strength. Forgive us for not duly recognizing our blessed estate as your covenant people. We know that we have incurred much guilt because of this, more than those you have not covenanted with. And we understand how our unfaithfulness provokes you to wrath. But we pray that you would not hold these wicked sins against us.
Moreover, we ask that you might renew our minds and transform our hearts. Though you are unseen, we ask that you might help us to perceive you with they eyes faith. May your presence be more real to us than our hardened hearts now admit.
Give us the heart of Christ, whose eyes were ever set upon you. And compel our souls to regard your infinite majesty and glory.
For we ask this in the Name of the One who died and rose again. Amen
