Saturday, November 17, 2007

Great and glorious Redeemer,

O how we have sinned against you. O how we have multiplied our transgressions again and again. We have heaped up our sins and have not ceased to offend you. So little have been our advancements and so many have been our backslidings.

Father, we prove day after day that we are born of our father Adam. The enticement of sin overcomes us and our hearts race after wicked things. So we bow before you to seek you again for your favor. Time after time we have set an ungodly example to those around us. Our words have led our children into sin and our actions have caused the ungodly to blaspheme. Instead of modeling righteousness and showing what is honorable, we have dishonored our God by our careless living.

Indeed we have taken your name in vain. But we look to you, that we might be rid of these sins and the others that plague our lives. We wish to gain victory over our sinful thoughts and gain a new inward zeal for what is good. So we plead with you today to look not upon us as our sins deserve. But let the blood of our dear Savior cover us. May our sins be thrown upon his cross, and may we live a new life by the power of your Spirit. Make us more watchful in life and continue to develop within us a zeal for what is most pleasing to you.
Almighty God,

You are the maker of heaven and earth. All things were created By you and by you we are sustained. This day we gather as your humble people to acknowledge our utter dependence upon you. You are from everlasting to everlasting and have no need of anything in any of your creation. But we are needy people. We are like babes who rely upon their mothers at every moment.

Since we know that we are but dust and shall one day come from the ground from which we were formed, we look to you with the eyes of faith. We wish this day to worship you and embrace again the everlasting life that you do give through your Son. May you be pleased to dwell with us and shine down upon us in this time. And may your grace be poured out from heaven to draw us further into obedience and faith.