Covenant Reformed Fellowship

Gladness in Your Presence

2008-03-16T07:16:00.000-05:00

Almighty God,

We enter your gates this morning with thanksgiving; we come into your courts with praise. For you are good and your steadfast love endures for ever. Your faithfulness persists to all generations.

You, O Lord, are God, you have made us. You tend to our needs as a shepherd tends to his sheep. You hear our cries. You wipe away our tears. You protect us from our enemies and fill us with goodness. You make us to dwell in board places. Therefore we come into your presence this morning with singing. In gladness we offer our service of worship to you.

And we ask O God that you would come down to us. May a pathway be opened into our hearts, and may your Spirit abide there forever. Even this day we pray that you would make us to ponder our ways. May we come to understand and the way that is blameless. We desire that our minds might be transformed and begin to align more fully with Christ our Lord.

Above all let us witness your majesty and be awed by your radiance. Give us a glimpse of your glory and let us leave this place changed by the experience of your divinity.

With Thee There is Forgiveness

2008-03-16T07:13:00.003-05:00

Gracious and Compassionate God,

You know how we have struggled with our sins this week. We come here today having lost many battles. We struggled and we strained, but we have failed to be victorious over sin and temptation.

By your grace we have made some ground. As a baby makes headway in learning to crawl, so too we have come some distance. But you know how small our progress has been. The devil has attacked us again and again. Our flesh has burned with passion, and the world has lured us away from the way of righteousness.

This is why we come to you this morning. We know that you will complete the work of grace that you have begun in us. You do nothing halfway. We expect that on the day of Christ’s return we shall experience the fullness of our salvation. But until that time we need your forgiveness and grace to sustain us day by day.

And we have the confidence that there is forgiveness with you, even for the chief of sinners. You forgave the sin of Adam. You covered the sins of our forefathers: Abraham, Issac, Jacob and David. You did not turn your back on the Israelites when they sought after other gods. You forgave them when they cried out to you and you exalted yourself as the God of compassion.

So too we look to you for the same covenant faithfulness. Forgive us of our lawless deeds and let the blood of our dear Savior purge them away. We ask that your Spirit would burn away our transgressions and that new life and obedience would appear in their place. Give us courage to perform your will, give us power to stand up against the siege of Satan, and let our footsteps be lead far from the realm of evil. Protect us and save us by your righteous, omnipotent arm, for we are weak and pitiful creatures, prone to sin and lusting after evil.

Listen to Sermons

2008-03-15T21:34:00.004-05:00

If you would like to listen to Pastor Timmons' sermons you can do so by clicking here. You will find a list of sermons to choose from. Let me know if you have problems, I would like to make sure it is fixed.

Prayer of Adoration and Invocation

2008-02-11T20:55:00.000-05:00

Almighty God,

You are the King of kings and the God of gods. To you all nations bow in submission. Kings prostrate themselves before you and authorities derive their power from you.And we who are gathered here today have gathered as one body to lift our praise to you. As crowds would gather to give laud and adoration to a conquering warrior we come to cast our praise to you, our Mighty King.

We acknowledge your sovereign power and bow our hearts in your presence. Moreover we humbly ask that you would descend upon us today. We beseech your favor, that you might draw us into deeper fellowship. We pray that we might be made to walk in the Spirit and not according to the flesh. We desire that we might be exposed to your holiness so that we might walk away radiating with holiness ourselves. As Moses came down from the mountain radiating with the glory of your presence, we desire to meet with you and become like you in righteousness, wisdom, and grace.

What we ask is that this time might be a time of worship and a time of transformation; a time of praise and a time of conversion; a time of reverence and a time of repentance. For this we ask in Jesus Name.

Prayer of Repentance and Renewal

2008-02-11T20:53:00.000-05:00

Holy God,

If we would deny the fact that we are sinners, we would be denying what is most evident to all. We would be fools if we tried to cover our iniquity, for it would be like trying to cover the sand on the sea shore.

Lord, we cannot escape the guilt. We cannot escape the shame. And so we come to you that we might obtain mercy. For we know that you are a God of mercy. You are full of compassion and will not turn away those who humbly and honestly turn from their sins.

Lord, that which we are ashamed of, we are sorrowful for. And we pray that you might do with our sins what we cannot: Cover them and cast them far away from us. Do not count them against us, but throw them upon Jesus and let his blood be a tide that washes them away.

We ask also that you would create in us a spirit of righteousness. Give us the holy characteristics that are becoming of those who profess your Name. We ask that your Spirit might come into us and break down our critical spirits. May it be that we love our neighbor rather than despise them. Make us to magnify their gifts rather than their imperfections. May we desire what is worthy and beautiful in them rather than envy and laud that which wicked and damnable. Help us to rejoice in their virtues mimic their merits and be silent regarding what is undesirable.

We pray that we might be made to honor Christ in this way—by being people who dwell on that which is worthy of praise and devoted to what is good.

Our Cheif Desire

2008-02-02T20:43:00.000-05:00

God of Gods,

You are beyond all comprehension. Your ways are higher than our ways. Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We know that we are unable to grasp the enormity of your being. For thinking about you is like trying to mine the depths of the oceans. But we gather together today to spend our energy in such holy contemplations. We gather in order to delight ourselves in your presence and to stand in awe of your infinite majesty.

And it is to you, the great I Am, that we come this morning. We have longed for you through this week. Our hearts have panted in thirst for you. Indeed, our inward man has yearned for the renewal of your Spirit.

So we ask that you would come and meet with us today. Come and refresh us with new life and give us a taste of what eternity will be like.

Lord, we desire one thing this morning: and it is you. And we desire that a flame of devotion might be ignited within our souls so that we might fear you and worship you aright. And we have the confidence that this will be done, for we ask this in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our Lack of Passion

2008-02-02T20:42:00.000-05:00

Gracious God,

In looking at your law we find that you are a God who requires the utmost devotion. We understand that you take no pleasure in sin, but desire us to love you with all our heart, mind and strength.

But we acknowledge that we lack the proper devotion. We confess that our hearts are often so lethargic. Instead of having blood that boils over with passion, our hearts are like tepid waters. Our souls are as quiet as a winter night.

While we recognize your lordship and acknowledge your gracious dealings with us, we still fail to possess a passionate spirit and adoring affection for you. This we admit is a wretched thing. It is utterly deplorable.

You have never ceased to love us. Your have never ceased to shower us with affection. You have protected us, pleased us, and pursued us. You have given us nourishment for body and soul, not to mention your law, your promises, and your one and only Son.

Indeed, in view of such things, our deadness is despicable and deserves to be punished. We know that such a demeanor is not only unlawful, but it is unworthy of you. Therefore we come before you and ask that you would forgive us for it. And we beseech you for grace to overcome this lukewarmness. We pray that you might kindle a fire within our hearts and fan it into a roaring blaze. May we not put you off, but seek to abide ever in the presence of your face.

From All Eternity

2008-01-20T08:17:00.000-05:00

Most holy and gracious God,

All that transpires in time comes as a result of your foreordination. Whatsoever comes to pass today was written before ages began. You planned every moment and devised each of the works of man.

In eternity you set forth this day. From of old you ordained that this would be the day that your praises would be raised and your word declared. You decreed the prayers and songs, and even the thoughts of our minds were prepared in advance by you.

Thus we stand in awe of your transcendence and we are overwhelmed by your unchangeable plans. We admit that we cannot understand it all. While we may try to inquire about its intricacies, we are met with inexpressible mysteries. But what mystifies us, is altogether plain to you.

As this book of history is written ,and even while this day unfolds, we wish to be counted as righteous in your eyes. We desire that our hearts and minds might be yours and yours alone. We do ask that all things might be ordered to your glory today. We pray that we, like all the creatures of the earth, may conform to the counsel of your will and render you the praise that you deserve.We pray that this day we would demonstrate before the world that our God reigns. For this we ask in the powerful name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hallowed be Thy Name

2007-12-16T06:45:00.000-05:00

Oh, Yes. We will have church today.

I will reiterate our weather policy for those of you who may not know: If you feel your life or safety are in danger, don't come. But If God opens the way to you, come and worship. I will be there no matter what.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

He is to be feared above all gods.

All the gods of the nations are idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

Psalm 96:4-5

2007-12-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

Eternal God,

You are exalted over all nations and your glory is above the heavens. No other god compares to you and no one can begin to speak of your Excellency. Your greatness extends from generation to generation and your majesty cannot be broken.This day we gather together to acknowledge you as our King. We lift our voices to praise our God who is enthroned on high.

We thank you that you have not remained at a distance. We praise you for stooping to inquire as to our well being and to bring us aid in times of need.You have raised us from the dust and you have lifted us our of our misery. You have given us joy and seated us with princes. We who were outcasts, you have made royalty. Truly you are most gracious, most kind, and most worthy of praise.

For this reason we seek your favor this morning. We ask that you would descend upon us again. Send forth your Spirit into this place and bring us into your holy presence. Let not one second of this time be wasted on frivolous thoughts or unnecessary worries. But let us be enraptured with our God this morning and may we dwell in the shelter of your wing.

2007-12-10T16:49:00.000-05:00

Almighty God,

We know that you are a God who will not put up with men forever. You have suffered long with sinners. You have overlooked a multitude of sins. But we know that you will one day break forth into this world and bring justice to your land. For this reason we bow before you as unworthy servants. We know that we have done wrong and we have not ceased to profane your name. But we come to you, poor and wretched sinners that we are, and beg for your mercy.

Lord, you have given each one of us responsibilities. You have committed to our care many things: money, children, time, and talents. You have given us a hearty portion of good things in this life. But all these things we have squandered. We have not used them in a way that is pleasing to you. Nor have we exercised proper care in our various duties. The examples that we have been poor and our leadership has been full of defects. When we should have been as tender as a shepherd, we have been stern and cruel. When we should have been liberal and openhanded, we have been miserly and calloused.

But you haven not been this way with us. You have time and again been gentle, generous, and gracious. The loving-kindness that you have expressed towards us has only made our sins all the more obvious and all the more wicked.

So we come to you, wishing to confess and forsake these sins. We seek you for pardon and pray that you might not be angry with us. Instead of casting us out into the outer darkness, we pray that you might discipline us in love. We ask that you would isolate these sins and remove them, as well as the many others that do infect our souls. We pray that we might find in their place those graces and virtues that were found in our Dear Savior, Jesus Christ. May we be filled with his undying love and faithfulness.

For we ask this in his precious name. Amen.

2007-11-17T18:29:00.000-05:00

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.

2007-11-17T18:28:00.000-05:00

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.

A Prayer for Entering Morning Worship

2007-10-29T17:32:00.000-05:00

Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Just as you called the sun to rise today, you have called us out of our slumber. By your grace you caused us to arise with life and breath anew. Moreover you have awakened our souls that we might enjoy eternal life.

Now, having been brought into this assembly by your good hand, we look to our God—We look to the head and defender of his church, in order to offer you our praises and to set apart this day to the One who has created all things and redeemed us by his only Begotten Son.

We acknowledge you as our King and know that it is in your hand to do make great and to bring low. By your Spirit hearts are hardened or broken. And we ask that this time of worship would be showered with your mercies. May your word this day not fall on dull ears, but we pray that the door of our hearts would be opened wide that we might receive it like the good soil receives the seed. May our minds be sharp and our souls be like traps so that no good thing may escape us.

Above all may we enjoy you today. May we remember again our God who has forgiven our sins, secured for us an eternal inheritance, and made us to reign with him in this world.

Today's Invocation

2007-10-07T12:10:00.000-05:00

Almighty God,

We come before you this morning because you are the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. You are the only wise God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the one who lives and reigns. We acknowledge that you are unlike any other, for you are infinite in being and perfection. And you have all life, glory and goodness in and of yourself. For this reason we assemble here today. We desire renew our vows to you and set you apart as Lord in our hearts.

As we call upon your name, we ask that you would condescend to us. Would that you would come down from your lofty dwelling place above and fill this place with your Spirit. May we enjoy sweet communion with you and worship you this day and this hour. We pray that you might be pleased to lift our heads and anoint our hearts with your redeeming love and cause us to pay homage to our Jehovah God.

Confession of Sin

2007-10-07T12:09:00.000-05:00

Almighty God,

As we approach you this morning we come to you as we are, with all of our sins.

We do not hide the fact that we have transgressed and offended your infinite holiness. Indeed we admit that we have been weak to battle temptation and slow to fulfill our duty before you. We have not paid honor to your name, nor taken it upon ourselves with sober recognition. We acknowledge the raging of our hearts and how we lust and yearn for ignoble things.

To our harm we pant after what is evil and we indulge in what can only be called folly. Each of us has strayed, and each of us has strayed in our own way. But we acknowledge also that we have sins that are common to us all. Moreover we have sinned corporately. Each of us has contributed to the wrath that is justly due to our house, community, and church.

But we pray that you might not look upon us in your displeasure. We cry out to you and we run to the cross of our dear Savior Jesus Christ. And on Calvary’s hilltop we cry out for mercy, begging that our sins not be held against us. Forgive us our many debts and turn our hearts toward you again. Let these misdeeds and our many others that we have committed time after time be crucified with Christ and put to death once and for all. Cause righteousness to come to life and let what is in accord with justice be fulfilled among us.

For this we ask in Jesus strong Name. Amen

The Failure of Foresight

2007-07-29T15:18:00.000-05:00

Our Father in Heaven,

In calling us to be Christians you called us to be light in the midst of darkness, and blessings in the midst of misery. But we have not lived up to this calling, nor adequately sought to fulfill it.

That is why we bow before you this morning, because we need to be forgiven for our lack of forethought. We are people who most frequently live by our whims and passions, and we fail to consider the future and how we might do good.

In this regard, our greatest offense has been against you. You have never ceased to think about us, and it is to our shame that we have not ceased for even a moment to devise ways to please you. We have not honored you because we have not properly prepared our hearts for worship or calculated when we could set aside time for special prayer, personal devotions, and much needed adoration and thanksgiving.

But we have sinned not only against heaven, but against our peers here on earth. Instead of carefully studying how we might be of benefit to our neighbors, we have been much consumed with ourselves and our own gain.

We beg you for pardon because the plans we have made have only revolved around our own desires and personal satisfaction. We have forgotten your past acts of love and have not remembered your great acts of redemption. You moved mightily in order to deliver us in our times of need. But you deeds have been like mighty storms of rain: they came with much power and made us stand in awe, but with their passing they were quickly forgotten. Indeed they were eclipsed by unrelenting selfishness and lust.

Forgive us, Lord, for failing to have a preemptive love. And give us hearts that truly esteem you. Turn us to yourself, and let our soul’s be fixed upon you. May all of our intentions and longings be focused upon the one who has loved us and given his life for us.

For this we ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Prayer of Confession for the Fourth of July

2007-07-08T14:53:00.000-05:00

Almighty and Compassionate God,

As we come before you this morning we give you praise for the freedoms that we as a nation enjoy. You have granted us life and liberty. Because of your loving-kindness we have the freedom to own property and pursue our personal welfare.

You have been gracious to us, for we know that we deserve not one good thing. We know that if you dealt with us as our sins deserve all these things would be stripped from us and we should be cast immediately into hell.

But we thank you for looking upon us so kindly. And we thank you for causing our forefathers to implement laws that were in accord with true justice and wisdom. We give you praise that our nation was founded on the principles of truth and the freedom that is found in your Law.

And this morning we look to you for your continued mercy and grace. For we know that we as a nation have not lived in accord with Christ. Like the Israelites long ago who strayed from the faith. We too have become a nation that does what is right in our own eyes.

Your patience has been great, but we know that you will only suffer so long with sinners. So we plead with you again to have mercy upon us. We ask that you would restore our fortunes. Give us a fresh outpouring of your Spirit. Like days of old where revival and renewal graced our lands, let us be drawn back to our God. Let us not glory in wickedness or lewdness, but let us glory in Christ. Let us not set ourselves up as lords, but may we as a united people acknowledge the Triune God alone as the Supreme Head and King of our state.

Since we have sought our independence from you, we know that we deserve to live eternally without you. We know that we deserve to have the freedoms we enjoy be used against us for our downfall. But we beseech you this morning for your favor. Do not give us justice, but make us a people who love justice. Do not take away our lives, but make us a people who treasure life. Grant us liberty, but bind our hearts to you. For this we ask in Jesus Name. Amen.

Squandered Blessings

2007-04-29T14:30:00.000-05:00

Almighty Father,

As we come before you this morning we recognize that we are sinners. And we know that we deserve to be stripped of all that we have and thrown into hell. Yet you have seen fit to give us life and breath. Moreover you have lavished upon us good things.

And we confess that we have mishandled these things and corrupted ourselves. We have loved the blessing and not the Blesser. We have coveted earthly goods and sought to attain them through wicked means. We have lusted and lied, cheated stolen. Neither have we looked out for the good of our neighbor. Instead we have wronged them and hurt them as we have grasped after temporal things.

You would be perfectly just if you would cut us off from the face of the earth and condemn us for all eternity. And this is why we seek you out. We come to you knowing that nothing we would offer you would satisfy you. Indeed we come naked and barren, putting our hope in nothing but the righteousness of your Son. We humbly ask that you would forgive us for our sins.

And we beseech you to cleanse us from our idolatrous heart. Lord, we ask that you would purge from us those unrighteous lusts & cravings. Give us a spirit of moderation and a heart that does not lurch after goods. Indeed we pray that we would be people who acknowledge the source of our life and diligently adhere to the righteous means of receiving our sustenance. We ask that you would temper our desires so that we might be content with what you give us, liberal in our giving, and hospitable towards others.

For this we ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Directions to Worship

2007-04-20T20:30:00.000-05:00

CRF will temporarily be meeting in the basement of Armstrong Accounting, which is located at 1236 Claremont Ave and is beside the National City Bank. (Click here for a map and driving directions.)

Parking is provided behind the building and you may enter through the basement door located to the left of the main double doors. Please note that there is no access through the main double doors. Also be aware that the basement entrance is somewhat hidden. A quick glance might overlook it.

Where Thou Goest, I will Go

2007-04-16T20:00:00.000-05:00

Due to unforeseen and sudden circumstances CRF is looking for a new meeting place. Please email CRF or call (419-289-2552) to find the arrangements for this week.

Evening Prayer

2007-04-16T19:51:00.000-05:00

O merciful God, light eternal shining in the darkness, Thou dispellest the night of our sins and the blindness of our hearts. Since Thou didst ordain that man should rest in the night and labor during the day, we pray Thee that our bodies may rest in peace and quiet, in order that they may be enabled to sustain the labors to which we shall again be called. Control our sleep and rule our hearts while we slumber in order that we may not be defiled in either body or soul but may glorify Thee even in our nightly rest.

Enlighten once more, we beseech Thee, the eyes of our mind, lest we enter upon the sleep of death. Grant that we may ever cherish the expectation of our redemption from the misery of the life that now is. Defend us against all assaults of the devil and take us in Thy holy protection.

We confess that we have not spent this day without grievously sinning against Thee. We pray Thee to cover our sins in Thy mercy, even as Thou dost shroud all the things of earth in the darkness of the night, lest we be cast away from Thy face.

Be pleased to bestow comfort and rest upon all that are sick, bowed down with grief, or afflicted with distress of soul, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

--taken from the Psalter Hymnal, CRC

Easter Hope

2007-04-08T17:07:00.000-05:00

Gracious and Redeeming God,

We who are poor sinners, come to you this morning with thankful hearts. Because of Christ’s victory over sin and death we are drawn into your presence. We acknowledge that there is no hope for us in this world save Christ. All is lost without him.

For this reason we wish you lay our souls at your feet. We ask that the conquest of his cross would be ours. We desire that his empty tomb would be our life.

We know that we have erred and greatly sinned against you. We have lived in accordance with our father Adam, and we have betrayed you like Eve, our mother. Despite our better judgment, we have run off into sin. Indeed our sin is so frequent that our consciences often fail to feel the sting of sin’s guilt.

But yet in our hearts we hear our condemnation. And we bow before our judge to ask for mercy and pardon. We know that those who come to you will by no means be cast out. So we come to you with full assurance of your pardoning grace.

Moreover we are so bold to ask that you might cleanse us from sin. Just as Christ left his grave clothes in the tomb, we pray that we would leave our lives of sin. We pray that you would put to death the misdeeds of the body and create within us new obedience and new life.

Let us not glory in that which is wretched, but let us cling to what is good and pure. Give us hearts to seek your will and the zeal to perform it.

In all things we pray that the world might know that we serve a living Savior and a glorified king. We ask that your work might be accomplished in us for the glory of your name.

For it is in the name of the resurrected Christ that we do pray. Amen.

Sinners Indeed

2007-04-01T14:05:00.000-05:00

Almighty and Merciful God,

As we come before you this morning we wish to acknowledge ourselves for who we are. We are sinners, utterly unable to submit to your will in any way without you.

We confess that we are evil and inclined toward every sort of wickedness. And the sole reason we do not fly headlong into the grossest of evils is because your hand is there to restrain us.
Indeed you have protected us from many evils already. We know that we have life and breathe today only because you have not treated us as our sins deserve. Lord, we thank you for your mercy, and we thank you for your long suffering. Moreover we thank you for turning our hearts toward you. For we know that we would never have even a sense of our sin without you.

And it is because we have this sense of sin that we turn to you this morning. You are good, and worthy of all honor and praise, but we have not given you’re the homage you deserve. Therefore we bow ourselves before you with contrite hearts. And we wish to ask you to pardon us for our transgressions.

Forgive us for not seeking the things of Christ. Forgive us for rebelling against your dominion and rule. Like the Israelites of old you pledged yourself to us. In kindness you brought us into your covenant, and promised to protect us and be our guide. But we have not submitted to your government or listened to your word. Forgive us Lord for our childish behavior, and be not angry with us.

But instead subdue our hearts. Conquer us with your mighty power, and make us to love your reign. Make us to find delight in your law and help us to take pleasure in what pleases you.

We pray that you might also bind that wretched Satan. We ask that you might restrain him and keep him from tempting us. We do not pardon ourselves by blaming the devil, but we do acknowledge his role in leading us astray. Our souls are so weak that we cannot resist him in and of ourselves. So we pray that you might keep him far from us and far from our children.

In all things we pray that you might order our lives so that you might receive all glory and honor. For this we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen

Practical Atheism

2007-03-18T06:16:00.000-05:00

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