Sunday, January 31, 2010

Energies Exhausted in Worship

God,

We come to worship you. And we pray that all that might hinder us from doing so might be cast off. Let the restraints of sin be removed, and the distractions of worldly cares be quieted. May it be that our minds turn solely to you and your glory. Moreover, we pray that all our energies might be exhausted in this holy hour. For our souls glory in your Lordship and rejoice in your tender care.

Yet, even as our mental and physical powers are drained, may we yet be revived—renewed in the Spirit of our God.

Father, may it be that we find our Sabbath rest in the work of worship. May our spiritual labors today bring forth a harvest of righteousness. That as we drink the spiritual milk of your word we would see our souls invigorated anew.

Lord, we pray that not one moment of this hour would be wasted. For we long to gain new life, new knowledge, new reasons to adore you.

So Father, as we draw near the temple on high, we ask that you might spread your wings over us. Shelter us in your divine care, and spread your redeeming love upon us. For we ask it in the Name of our dear Redeemer and Friend, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Great Whiners

Almighty King and precious Redeemer,

Your hand has been outstretched to do us good. Yet we have not been obedient to your word. We have not returned kindness for the favor you have shown us, or warmed to the way of the Lord.

Like the Israelites of old, we have grumbled against you. Like them we have become experts in complaining. For we have grieved your all wise providence and expressed contempt when you made our bellies full.

Have you not given us what we did not deserve? Yet we said it was not enough. Then, when you allotted us an even greater portion of the good things in life, we gave you no thanks, nor honored the Source of our blessing.

Father, our ways have been the ways of sinners. And we confess before you that we ought to be stripped of all that we have.

But we pray that one thing would not be taken away from us, and that is your grace and mercy. Let your unfailing love be ours, and let it be ours in abundance. And should you you take away all our possessions, we pray that you would take our sin away with it.

Should you grant that we continue with these gifts, we pray that they would not become a curse to us or used against us in any way. Rather we pray, with ever such boldness, that you would give us one thing more: that is, that you would give us a spirit by which we may enjoy and use these gifts properly. That we would have a heart that looks to you, rather to what you have bestowed.

Lord, in all these things we look to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we hold fast to his mediation. For there and there alone do we find our courage to come to you even now. And we pray that the wounds of our great High Priest would intercede for us even now before you.

For we ask this in His strong Name.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

God be Praised for Giving Us Seats of Honor

We extol you, O Lord of the Universe, and praise your infinite name. You spoke an all things were made. You commanded, and it was done. How admirable is your work, O Lord. How great is your power.

We cast ourselves before you, we who are nothing before you. We despise what we are and we despise what we have become. We are soiled and not fit to sit upon the doorsteps of heaven. For the depths of our unworthiness we can never plumb, the extent of our sins we can never measure.

But you bow down to us and look upon us with great delight. You condescend to us and lift our heads. You shower us with gifts of life and bestow upon us nothing but steadfast love. You open the door of your dwelling and you invite us to come and take seats of honor.

O most sweet and merciful God, your hospitality only increases the praises that you are due. The welcome you give us exceeds what we deserve.

So let now our hearts be put in a right frame, may they evoke the reverence that only angels can rightly give.

Confessing the Sin of an Irreligious Mind

Why do you regard such worms, O God? Why do you offer yourself to wretches like us who are ever so profane?

Lord, you are of such infinite glory, but we are vile and filled with all sort so error. With our mouths we spew forth blasphemies; with our eyes look contemptibly upon your children; with our feet we run into evil. Our hearts are bereft of praise and our thanksgiving is withheld from you who deserve eternity’s worship.

Does this not reveal the temperature of our hearts? Is not our inward man as colder than this frigid winter’s day?

Father, we confess that our lives are bent on evil and we have not given you the honor that you deserve. And we pray that you might pardon our irreligious nature and forgive us for seeking anything and everything but you.

Give us each this day a personal revival. Warm us by your grace and kindle a new zeal within us. Give us the assurance of your divine love and let us be cleansed of our sin. For this we ask in Jesus’ strong name.

To Feed Ravenously at the Table of Our Lord

Behold, I come to you, Lord, that I may prosper by Your gift and be delighted at Your holy banquet, which you, O God, in Your sweetness have prepared for Your poor. Behold, all that I can or ought to desire is in You. You are my salvation and my redemption, my hope and strength, my honor and glory.

Here at this table we gather in order to be fattened by your outstretched hand. And we pray that you would now feed us with this heavenly food. We come to this table with great joy and eager expectation, for we know that this is the only food that will really sustain our bodies, for its nutrients are spiritual in nature and its enrichment profits our souls.

Let us feed upon our Lord Jesus to the satisfaction of our inner cravings. Let us indulge ourselves in your mercy and ravenously partake of the love which is in Christ our Mediator. God, here at this table, make us voracious gluttons who devour you grace greedily. And when we arise from this great feast, let us be ever so filled with spiritual joy and fattened by the good tidings that only Your Spirit can impart.