This Week’s Scripture

·         Genesis 22:1-14
·         Psalm 13
·         Romans 6:12-23
·         Matthew 10:40-42

Adoration

Psalm 13:5-6
But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.

And Can It Be that I Should Gain (verse 1)
And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain! For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God, shouldst die for me?
(Charles Wesley)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.

Confession

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (Romans 6:12-13)

God of mercy, please deliver me from pride and vanity and boasting, from self-assertion and self-seeking, and blindness to the common weal. Deliver me from dislike of criticism and love of popularity, and from unreadiness to do my duty at whatever cost. Deliver me from hastiness of speech and sullenness of temper, from readiness to think the worst of others, and from all unseemly and unworthy conversation. In Christ’s name I ask this.  Amen. (The Book of Worship for Church and Home, 1965)

As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Thanksgiving

Patient and longsuffering Lord, I confess that sometimes I feel as though you have forgotten about me and the hard times I am going through. It’s as if you have hidden your face from me. Such feelings lead me to sorrow, as though the undesirable circumstances of my life have triumphed over me. And yet Father, I know in my heart of hearts that this is not so, for I have trusted in your steadfast love. You have promised to never leave me nor forsake me and your record throughout my life is perfect. Therefore, I will continue to thank and praise you for the joy of my salvation. You have indeed dealt bountifully with me and I am grateful. Please remind me of your presence and goodness when those same overwhelming feelings begin to sneak up on me again. In the name of the One who has promised to be with me always. Amen. (based on Psalm 13)

Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life.

Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself)

·         Spiritual Warfare
·         Growth in Christlikeness
·         Increasing faithfulness in the spiritual disciplines 
·         My health
·         For my ordinary appointments and activities to become divine appointments and activities. 
·         Other needs

Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)
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·         My Family 
·         Mercy for those who are poor and hungry  
·         Justice for those who are oppressed and persecuted  
·         Love for those who oppress and persecute others
·         Peace for those in the midst of war, crime, and violence   
·         Other needs

If we love Christ much, surely we shall trust him much. (Thomas Brooks)