What does it really mean to know and be in relationship with a holy, loving, powerful, omnipotent, Trinitarian God? How do we learn how to listen to,

Transcription

1 What does it really mean to know and be in relationship with a holy, loving, powerful, omnipotent, Trinitarian God? How do we learn how to listen to, talk to, respond to, and deepen in relationship with him? Questions like this have been asked by the followers of the Judeo- Christian God for thousands of years. Being in relationship with an infinite God as finite people begs questions and a need for learning, intentionality, intimacy, and roadmaps. Our book of Psalms, all 150 of them, has been the textbook for this qualitative and authentic life of faith for centuries. It was compiled by people who longed for more of God when he felt near, and when he felt far away. It gives us vocabulary for our joys, sorrows, fears, and passions. And it was given to us by God so that we might seek, argue with, listen to, and follow Him. We are spending several months learning from these Psalms because we want an honest and earnest life of faith, one that knows how, when things get rough, to turn to Psalm 13 instead of turning away from God. I pray that you'll pray them with us during this time, Dean Miller

2 DAILY PRAYER ENTERING GOD S PRESENCE Begin by reading one of the following verses. The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. John 4.23 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Psalm 43.3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3.1 Then, open with confession saying: As we enter God s presence, let s take a moment to search our hearts and confess our sins against God and our neighbor. Allow silence for private confession. Then, all together pray: Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Amen. Follow with this prayer for assurance of pardon: Gracious Father, we rejoice that Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Seal your pardon to our hearts that, forgiven and cleansed of our sins, we may rise to walk in newness of life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

3 Conclude the time of confession with an acclamation of praise to God. Lord, open our lips, And our mouth shall proclaim your praise! Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Let us praise the Lord! The Lord s name be praised! Then, offer praise to God with Psalm a. Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. or, with Psalm 100. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. HEARING GOD S WORD Read the passage for the day. After the lesson is read: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!

4 Then, affirm your faith with the words of the Apostles Creed. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. SPEAKING TO GOD After the Creed, invite everyone participating to join in prayer. The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Then, continue with the following responsive prayers. Be exalted, O Lord, above the heavens; Let your glory cover the earth. Show us your mercy, O Lord; And grant us your salvation. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; And make your chosen people joyful. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care. And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known on earth; Your saving power among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God;

5 Then, say this prayer in the morning. Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. or, this prayer in the evening. Lighten our darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Then, select from the following prayers at your discretion. O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Spirit, may shine with the radiance of Christ s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. And, then say one of the following prayers for mission. Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. O God of all the nations of the earth: Remember the multitudes who have been created in your image but have not known the redeeming work of our Savior Jesus Christ; and grant that, by the prayers and labors of your holy Church, they may be brought to know and worship you as you have been revealed in your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

6 Follow with an open time of prayer, or choose a few of the biddings below. Let s pray for our family to grow in the knowledge and love of God. Let s pray for our neighbors who do not know the light of God s glory revealed in Jesus. Let s pray for (choose a nation) to repent and believe in the Gospel. Let s pray for our President and all in authority. Let s pray for AFAC and the hundreds of families we support through them. Let s pray for Ascension that we may walk as children of the light, loving what is good, right, and true. Let s pray for the children of our church to grow in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and all people. Let s pray for those in our congregation who desire to have children. Let s pray for those in our congregation who are unmarried and desire a spouse. Let s pray for our Rector, Dean Miller, the Parish Council, and the staff of Ascension. Let s pray for the day ahead of us and our particular needs. The prayers are concluded with the following prayer of thanksgiving. Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. Then, conclude with one of the following blessings. May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Amen.

7 DAILY DEVOTIONS for SUNDAY APPROACHING GOD Begin by reading the following verse. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm Then, allow for a moment of silence as God searches your heart. Confess your sins to him as he brings them to your attention. Close your time of confession with the following prayer: Most merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbor as myself. I am truly sorry, and I humbly repent. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me that I may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Amen. Read the following Scripture passage of assurance promising God s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus. Follow with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God for his steadfast love. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5.8 LISTENING TO GOD Read a selected portion of Scripture. If with a group or family, discuss what was read. After the lesson: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! SPEAKING TO GOD Read the following Scriptures and biddings as a guide to your prayers. Offer a short prayer based on the Scripture lesson. Thank God for something revealed about himself, claim a promise, or ask for his help to obey a command given in the passage. God commands us to observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Deuteronomy 5.12) Ask the Lord for a restful and holy day as you rejoice in Jesus Christ.

8 Paul writes, We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. (1 Thessalonians ) Please pray for our bishop, Steve Breedlove, our Rector, Dean Miller, and the clergy of RenewDC, asking God to uphold and sustain them in their labors for the gospel. The psalmist encourages us to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of God s deeds in songs of joy! (Psalm ) Offer prayers for our community s worship to be rich and life-giving this evening. Close the prayer time by saying the Lord s Prayer. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

9 DAILY DEVOTIONS for MONDAY APPROACHING GOD Begin by reading the following verse. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us. Daniel Then, allow for a moment of silence as God searches your heart. Confess your sins to him as he brings them to your attention. Close your time of confession with the following prayer. Heavenly Father, nothing is hidden from your sight; I cannot hide my faults or conceal my sins from you. I ve failed to obey your voice and walk in your laws. My transgressions are an open shame. Therefore, I confess my wrongs; I am sorry for my sins. Be merciful to me, O God, and forgive me as I seek refuge in your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Instruct me and enlarge my heart that I may run in the way of your commandments to the glory of your name. Amen. Read the following Scripture passage of assurance promising God s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus. Follow with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God for his steadfast love. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. Psalm LISTENING TO GOD Read a selected portion of Scripture. If with a group or family, discuss what was read. After the lesson: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! SPEAKING TO GOD Read the following Scriptures and biddings as a guide to your prayers. Offer a short prayer based on the Scripture lesson. Thank God for something revealed about himself, claim a promise, or ask for his help to obey a command given in the passage.

10 James states, If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James ) Pray that God would give our church a merciful and gracious spirit towards those who lack the basic necessities of life, both in our city and around the world. God blesses his images that we might subdue the earth and have dominion over it (Genesis 1.28). Ask God to bless you in your particular vocation, fulfilling your call in a way that pleases God and advances his kingdom in the world. Paul instructs us to put on then, as God s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you. (Colossians ) Ask God to bear these fruits in our church community. The psalmist reminds us that the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children s children. (Psalm ) Pray for the children of our church to experience the faithfulness of God and walk in the love and fear of his name. Close the prayer time by saying the Lord s Prayer. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

11 DAILY DEVOTIONS for TUESDAY APPROACHING GOD Begin by reading the following verse. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm Then, allow for a moment of silence as God searches your heart. Confess your sins to him as he brings them to your attention. Close your time of confession with the following prayer: Almighty God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. Like a lost sheep, I ve strayed from your commandments, following the devices and desires of my own heart. I ve done those things I ought not to have done, and not done those things I ought to have done. Help me, O God of my salvation! For the sake of your Son, deliver me from my sins, and, by your Spirit, teach me to walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Amen. Read the following Scripture passage of assurance promising God s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus. Follow with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God for his steadfast love. God does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm LISTENING TO GOD Read a selected portion of Scripture. If with a group or family, discuss what was read. After the lesson: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! SPEAKING TO GOD Read the following Scriptures and biddings as a guide to your prayers. Offer a short prayer based on the Scripture lesson. Thank God for something revealed about himself, claim a promise, or ask for his help to obey a command given in the passage.

12 Jesus says, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. (Matthew ) Pray for God to send out laborers into all the world, raising up a new generation of ministers of the gospel. Luke describes the early church as having glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts ) Ask God to make this the reality in our church as well. The psalmist says, I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. (Psalm 81.10) Pray that we would receive God s nourishment in Christ Jesus, strengthening us to walk in newness of life. Close the prayer time by saying the Lord s Prayer. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

13 DAILY DEVOTIONS for WEDNESDAY APPROACHING GOD Begin by reading the following verse. For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah Then, allow for a moment of silence as God searches your heart. Confess your sins to him as he brings them to your attention. Close your time of confession with the following prayer: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. Hide your face from my sins and blot out my iniquity. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Read the following Scripture passage of assurance promising God s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus. Follow with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God for his steadfast love. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1.8 LISTENING TO GOD Read a selected portion of Scripture. If with a group or family, discuss what was read. After the lesson: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! SPEAKING TO GOD Read the following Scriptures and biddings as a guide to your prayers. Offer a short prayer based on the Scripture lesson. Thank God for something revealed about himself, claim a promise, or ask for his help to obey a command given in the passage.

14 Paul urges that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life. (1 Timothy 2.1-2) Please pray for those in positions of authority in our country and around the world. The psalmist says, May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. (Psalm ). Pray for the advance of the gospel around the world, particularly for our ministry partners: the Hood, Comstock, and Deuscher families, and One Egg. Paul says, If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5.25) The fruit of the Spirit s presence are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians ) Pray that our lives would be marked by the Spirit s fruit. Close the prayer time by saying the Lord s Prayer. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

15 DAILY DEVOTIONS for THURSDAY APPROACHING GOD Begin by reading the following verse. The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews Then, allow for a moment of silence as God searches your heart. Confess your sins to him as he brings them to your attention. Close your time of confession with the following prayer: Heavenly Father, nothing can be hidden from your sight; I cannot hide my faults or conceal my sins from you. I ve failed to obey your voice and walk in your laws. My transgressions are an open shame. Therefore, I confess my wrongs; I am sorry for my sins. Be merciful to me, O God, and forgive me as I seek refuge in your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Instruct me and enlarge my heart that I may run in the way of your commandments to the glory of your name. Amen. Read the following Scripture passage of assurance promising God s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus. Follow with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God for his steadfast love. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians LISTENING TO GOD Read a selected portion of Scripture. If with a group or family, discuss what was read. After the lesson: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! SPEAKING TO GOD Read the following Scriptures and biddings as a guide to your prayers. Offer a short prayer based on the Scripture lesson. Thank God for something revealed about himself, claim a promise, or ask for his help to obey a command given in the passage.

16 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus ) Pray for our local partners, the Arlington Food Assistance Center and the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless. Paul prays for the church asking that God according to the riches of his glory may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. (Ephesians ) Ask God to strengthen your heart to comprehend and experience the love of Christ. The psalmist says, He established a testimony in Jacob, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. (Psalm ) Pray that the children of our church would set their hope in God and rejoice in his salvation given in Jesus Christ. Close the prayer time by saying the Lord s Prayer. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

17 DAILY DEVOTIONS for FRIDAY APPROACHING GOD Begin by reading the following verse. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John Then, allow for a moment of silence as God searches your heart. Confess your sins to him as he brings them to your attention. Close your time of confession with the following prayer: Merciful Father, I confess that I have walked in darkness rather than light, failing to love what is good and right and true. My heart has turned back; I have departed from your ways. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, deliver me from all my transgressions and let no sin get dominion over me. Seal your tender mercies to my heart that I may put away sin and put on the new self, being renewed after your image in true righteousness and holiness. Amen. Read the following Scripture passage of assurance promising God s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus. Follow with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God for his steadfast love. God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians LISTENING TO GOD Read a selected portion of Scripture. If with a group or family, discuss what was read. After the lesson: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!

18 SPEAKING TO GOD Read the following Scriptures and biddings as a guide to your prayers. Offer a short prayer based on the Scripture lesson. Thank God for something revealed about himself, claim a promise, or ask for his help to obey a command given in the passage. Paul says, Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility to count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2.3-5) Pray that we may have the mind of Christ among us, walking in the way of humility and self-sacrifice. Jesus says, Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5.16) Let s pray that God would give our church grace to be light so that others may glorify him as a result of our actions. Paul says, If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4.3-4) Ask God to illumine the hearts of your neighbors, friends, and family who do not believe the gospel. Close the prayer time by saying the Lord s Prayer. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

19 DAILY DEVOTIONS for SATURDAY APPROACHING GOD Begin by reading the following verse. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. Psalm Then, allow for a moment of silence as God searches your heart. Confess your sins to him as he brings them to your attention. Close your time of confession with the following prayer: Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! Attend to my plea for mercy. I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. I ve been stubborn of heart, following my own counsel and forsaking your ways. Pardon my guilt, for it is great. For the sake of your steadfast love, wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin that I may rise to serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Read the following Scripture passage of assurance promising God s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus. Follow with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God for his steadfast love. In Christ, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1.7 LISTENING TO GOD Read a selected portion of Scripture. If with a group or family, discuss what was read. After the lesson: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! SPEAKING TO GOD Read the following Scriptures and biddings as a guide to your prayers. Offer a short prayer based on the Scripture lesson. Thank God for something revealed about himself, claim a promise, or ask for his help to obey a command given in the passage.

20 Jesus says, Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven... Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew , 44) Ask God to uphold all who are persecuted for their faith and to bless those who persecute them. Paul directs us to not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4.6-7) Ask God to guard your heart and mind in Christ as you learn to cast your anxieties and cares upon him in prayer. Close the prayer time by saying the Lord s Prayer. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

21 RESOURCES for KIDS Our kids are a gift from the Lord. In his grace, God sets them apart and promises to be their God. They are not second class citizens at church, but rather heirs of promises for the continuation of God s mission to the nations. As parents, God calls us to bring them up in his nurture and admonition. We believe one of the greatest means for fulfilling this call is to immerse our kids in daily worship. Through the regular routine of reading the Scriptures, confessing sin, reciting creeds, praying, and discussing, God shapes and forms our kids in his presence. As our kids mature, we encourage parents to teach them the three classic standards of the Christian faith: the Lord s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles Creed. The Prayer and Creed are part of the liturgy, so they will rehearse and absorb these daily. Please take some additional time to memorize the Ten Commandments with your children and walk them through their meaning. We are also providing a list of memory verses to give our kids a solid foundation in Scripture. TEN COMMANDMENTS I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor your father and your mother. Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness against your neighbor. Do not covet. MEMORY VERSES TO REVIEW: Psalm 1 Romans Peter Titus Romans Phillipians

22 DAILY READINGS The following schedule provides daily readings through the Psalms. As you read them, please consider: What do you observe about God in this psalm? What do you notice about the psalmist? Have you ever felt like the psalmist does here? You might want to finish your time with God by praying this psalm aloud. 5/4 - Psalm 1 &2 5/5 - Psalm 3 & 4 5/6 - Psalm 5 & 6 5/7 - Psalm 7 5/8 - Psalm 8 5/9 - Psalm 9 5/10 - Psalm 10 5/11 - Psalm 11 & 12 5/12 - Psalm 13 & 14 5/13 - Psalm 15 & 16 5/14 - Psalm 17 5/15 - Psalm 18 5/16 - Psalm 19 5/17 - Psalm 20 5/18 - Psalm 21 5/19 - Psalm 22 5/20 - Psalm 23 & 24 5/21 - Psalm 25 5/22 - Psalm 26 5/23 - Psalm 27 5/24 - Psalm 28 5/25 - Psalm 29 5/26 - Psalm 30 5/27 - Psalm 31 5/28 - Psalm 32 5/29 - Psalm 33 5/30 - Psalm 34 5/31 - Psalm 35 6/1 - Psalm 36 6/2 - Psalm 37 6/3 - Psalm 38 6/4 - Psalm 39 6/5 - Psalm 40 6/6 - Psalm 41 6/7 - Psalm 42 6/8 - Psalm 43 6/9 - Psalm 44 6/10 - Psalm 45 6/11 - Psalm 46 6/12 - Psalm 47 6/13 - Psalm 48 6/14 - Psalm 49 6/15 - Psalm 50 6/16 - Psalm 51 6/17 - Psalm 52 6/18 - Psalm 53 6/19 - Psalm 54 6/20 - Psalm 55 6/21 - Psalm 56 6/22 - Psalm 57 6/23 - Psalm 58 6/24 - Psalm 59 6/25 - Psalm 60 & 61 6/26 - Psalm 62 & 63 6/27 - Psalm 64 & 65 6/28 - Psalm 66 6/29 - Psalm 67 6/30 - Psalm 68

23 7/1 - Psalm 69 7/2 - Psalm 70 7/3 - Psalm 71 7/4 - Psalm 72 7/5 - Psalm 73 7/6 - Psalm 74 7/7 - Psalm 75 & 76 7/8 - Psalm 77 7/9 - Psalm 78 7/10 - Psalm 79 7/11 - Psalm 80 7/12 - Psalm 81 7/13 - Psalm 82 7/14 - Psalm 83 7/15 - Psalm 84 7/16 - Psalm 85 7/17 - Psalm 86 7/18 - Psalm 87 & 88 7/19 - Psalm 89 7/20 - Psalm 90 7/21 - Psalm 91 7/22 - Psalm 92 7/23 - Psalm 93 7/24 - Psalm 94 7/25 - Psalm 95 7/26 - Psalm 96 7/27 - Psalm 97 7/28 - Psalm 98 & 99 7/29- Psalm 100 & 101 7/30 - Psalm 102 7/31 - Psalm 103 8/1 - Psalm 104 8/2 - Psalm 105 8/3 - Psalm 106 8/4 - Psalm 107 8/5 - Psalm 108 8/6 - Psalm 109 8/7 - Psalm 110 8/8 - Psalm 111 8/9 - Psalm 112 8/10 - Psalm 113 & 114 8/11 - Psalm 115 8/12 - Psalm 116 & 117 8/13 - Psalm 118 8/14 - Psalm /15 - Psalm /16 - Psalm /17 - Psalm /18 - Psalm /19 - Psalm /20 - Psalm /21 - Psalm /22 - Psalm 120, 121, & 122 8/23 - Psalm 123, 124, & 125 8/24 - Psalm 126, 127 & 128 8/25 - Psalm 129, 130, 131 8/26 - Psalm 132 & 122 8/27 - Psalm 134 & 135 8/28 - Psalm 136 8/29 - Psalm 137 & 138 8/30 - Psalm 139 8/31 - Psalm 140 & 141 9/1 - Psalm 142 & 143 9/2 - Psalm 144 9/3 - Psalm 145 9/4 - Psalm 146 9/5 - Psalm 147 & 148 9/6 - Psalm 149 & 150

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