Today I led prayers at our gathering based on the readings offered in the Revised Common Lectionary.
Intro
We are doing something a bit different in our prayers today. I have taken a few
verses from each of the readings in the lectionary for today and made a prayer
from them. The focus is on our relationship with God, so the prayers are mainly
intercessions for ourselves as individuals and as a gathering of believers.
Let us pray:
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,"
declares the LORD.
"For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."
Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NIV)
Lord, you have offered us forgiveness as we confess our sins. But still we hold
you at a distance. We do not have only your law on our hearts and minds. We are
busy with worldly things and those too occupy our minds and direct our attention
from you. Help us to recognise all our sin and confess it so that there are no
barriers between us and you, so you can fulfil your promise to be our God and we
commit to being your people. Undivided. Only for you. One God. One people wholly
and only committed to your law and with your way on our hearts and minds and
brimming over our lips so that we do not need to be taught your way. Your way
becomes our very nature.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.
Psalm 119:102-104 (NIV)
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Give us a
love of Your Word so that we take time to read and study it. Let your word come
before the morning papers. Let your word be on our minds and hearts during our
daily work. Let your word be on our lips as we talk with those we meet each day.
Let your word be before us at the close of the day, of higher priority than the
evening entertainment, of higher importance than the evening news, the last
thing we know before we sleep.
Your word is sweeter than honey to my mouth, therefore I will not depart from
your ways, therefore I hate every wrong path.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
"It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." Gen 32:30 (NIV)
Lord we long to know you face to face. We need to be confronted with you to
establish our relationship with you. Yet we fear you, for you are a holy God and
we are unholy. You are a jealous God and we have many priorities and idols in
our lives. You are a demanding God and we are a busy people. Meeting you face to
face will utterly change our lives, threaten our comfort, turn our priorities
upside down.
Yet Lord we need to meet you face to face. We need to be burned by the holy fire
of your glory. We need to know you are a mighty God, the only true God, the One.
Let us see you God so that we may live.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)
You are the only one to save us. You are the only one to help us. We look to you
the maker of heaven and earth. The big God with the big plan for the universe.
The God who is walking the road from the hills to meet us. You are the only one
for us.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
As we study and follow your word enlighten our hearts and minds so that we see
how to apply your word. Help us to use your word as our daily guidance. Speak to
us through your word. Open our ears so that we can hear, understand and apply
your word. So that your Kingdom comes among us and your will is done among us in
our daily lives, moment to moment, day to day, week to week and for all
eternity.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1 (NIV)
And so we pray now. And so we pray tomorrow. And so we pray this week. Be our God. Save us and teach us through your word so that we can be your people. We pray now. Speak to us. Confront us with the power and glory of your holy presence. And so we pray now.
And so we pray again.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
And so we pray
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
