A PRAYER FOR LENT
Yahweh M’kaddesh, the God who sets apart and makes holy by your power and for your purpose, you are the Lord our Sanctifier.
Your word to your ancient people Israel is your word to us today: “Consecrate yourselves and be holy; for I am the LORD your God. Keep my statutes and observe them; I am the LORD; I sanctify you.” (Leviticus 20:8)
As you made ancient Israel a separate and holy nation in which your manifest presence could dwell, so, Lord, set us apart and make us to be holy dwelling places of your Holy Spirit.
Deliver us from the “sovereignty of self” and sin so that we might live in holiness and love under the “sovereignty of your Spirit.” (Richard Howard)
May the righteousness you imputed to us at our salvation become imparted – real and experienced – righteousness in us by your power.
Spirit of God, help us to “cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
O Lord our Sanctifier, sanctify us entirely, so that our “spirit and soul and body may be kept sound and blameless” (1 Thessalonians 5:23) as we look forward to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.