Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Almighty God: I confess that I often honor you with my lips while my heart is far from you. I am content to appear righteous instead of truly being righteous. I repent of my sin and my self-love. Please search my heart, examine my motives, and forgive my faults. Awaken me to your glory, and send your Spirit to renew and change my heart. Help me to hear your voice today above the clamor of this world, and follow only you. Amen.

Pause to confess specifically any sins the Holy Spirit may be convicting you about.

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Holy Spirit: I adore you for your presence, your power, and your ministry in my life. Thank you that you have come to transform me from the inside out, filling me with your good fruit and crowding out the deeds and desires of the flesh. Thank you for the beauty you create in the lives of your people.

Today, I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart. Like the Psalmist, I have called, and you have answered me. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, make me mindful today of the ways you preserve my life - all the ways you keep me safe as I travel, guard me from harmful people, and sustain my life in a dangerous world. Many days I take all of this for granted. But I know it’s your right hand that delivers me. I ask today for the grace to image you by preserving the life and flourishing of others. Where there is danger, let me bring safety. Where there is unrest, let me bring peace. Wherever I can further the well-being of another person, let me do so joyfully and diligently. May I preserve human life and dignity in ways that bring you honor and glory.

Take time now specifically to intercede for yourself, your neighbors, your church, your city, and the world, bringing your needs and the needs of others before the Lord.

And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and always, until the day of Christ's return.

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

O Lord, I acknowledge before you my sin, my wounds, and my weakness. I need your forgiveness; I need your healing; I need your strength. In Christ, you draw near to the weak and needy. You are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Forgive my sin, for Jesus’ sake. Heal my wounds, for Jesus’ sake. Show your strength in my weakness, for Jesus’ sake. By your Spirit, empower me today to delight in you and to obey your will, seeking your glory above all else. Amen.

Pause to confess specifically any sins the Holy Spirit may be convicting you about.

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

O God: I adore you for the tremendous glory of things unseen. Thank you that though my outer self is wasting away, my inner self is being renewed day by day. Thank you for all the momentary afflictions you send my way to prepare for me an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Lord, I think of ancient watchmen on the city walls, waiting for morning, when the threat of a nighttime attack would be over. That’s how I want to wait for you - not with passive apathy, but with earnest intention, looking, watching, scanning the horizon for evidences of your grace. And that’s how I want to hope in your word - not letting your truth passively fall upon my ears, but taking it in, ruminating on it, letting it fill me with life and joy and courage. So as I begin this day, let me wait upon you. Even if that “waiting” is just a few precious minutes before the duties of the day press in on me - let me cherish the chance to wait on you and to watch for your goodness in my life. Like the sun rising to meet the day, let me see your goodness rising to meet all the challenges in my life today.

Take time now specifically to intercede for yourself, your neighbors, your church, your city, and the world, bringing your needs and the needs of others before the Lord.

And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and always, until the day of Christ's return.

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

God my Father, in my weakness and unbelief I have lived by my own strength rather than by the power of your resurrection. I confess my self-reliance. By your Spirit, so draw my heart to you, so guide my mind, so fill my imagination, so control my will, that I may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use me as you will, for your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pause to confess specifically any sins the Holy Spirit may be convicting you about.

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Almighty God: I reflect with joy on the day of my baptism. I adore you for calling me to yourself and uniting me with the Lord Jesus in his death and resurrection. Thank you that the one who has died has been set free from sin. Jesus will never die again - and neither will I!

Today, O Lord, I meditate on this oft-repeated description of your character: “You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” This reminder gives me confidence as I move into this day. You are not a capricious god, whose love for me comes and goes based on my performance. Rather, you are committed to me, bound to me in covenant faithfulness because of Jesus. So today, let your never-ending love form the basis of my identity. Let it drive away all insecurity and all fear. Free me from using those around me as the basis of my identity, worth, and value. Instead, make me fully present and fully available to others, grounded in the stable identity that flows from your covenant love.

Take time now specifically to intercede for yourself, your neighbors, your church, your city, and the world, bringing your needs and the needs of others before the Lord.

And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and always, until the day of Christ's return.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Eternal God, my fear and my unbelief run deep. While I may outwardly confess your salvation, inwardly I deny the power of your Gospel. I work to keep up appearances, but I neglect the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faithfulness. Yet according to your steadfast love, you have forgiven me through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Direct my path, Lord, that I may walk in repentance and humility before you and others. Amen.

Pause to confess specifically any sins the Holy Spirit may be convicting you about.

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

O God: you know me so deeply that even the hairs of my head are numbered. I am not insignificant or unimportant; I am “of more value than many sparrows.” I adore you for the way you know and care for me.

Father: this Psalm acknowledges the reality of deep distress - the kind of trouble that causes me to lose sleep and that makes my spirit faint. Your people are always experiencing seasons like this. I have known these seasons; and if I’m not in one right now, then someone else is. Father, I ask you to make me especially mindful of the troubles of those around me today. Make me particularly sensitive to facial cues and body language. Help me discern when souls are downcast and discouraged. Allow my prayers today to flow toward those in your body who are troubled. And make me an instrument of your peace. Thank you, Jesus, that you are a Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief. Thank you, Holy Spirit, that you intercede for the saints with groanings too deep for words.

Take time now specifically to intercede for yourself, your neighbors, your church, your city, and the world, bringing your needs and the needs of others before the Lord.

And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and always, until the day of Christ's return.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Gracious and merciful God: I confess to you today my lack of faith. You have saved me by grace, yet still I try to earn your favor by my works. You have met my deepest need in Christ, yet still I doubt your fatherly care. You have given me your Spirit, yet still I walk according to the flesh. Forgive my lack of faith, and strengthen me by your grace, that I may walk with you in freedom, joy, and worship. Amen.

Pause to confess specifically any sins the Holy Spirit may be convicting you about.

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Lord Jesus: I adore you because you redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. In you, the blessing of Abraham has come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Thank you for bearing the curse, that we might inherit the blessing.

Father: this Psalm reminds me of how intimately you know me. You know when I sit down and when I rise. You discern my thoughts from afar. You formed my innermost parts while I was in my mother’s womb. There is no place I can go to flee from your presence; nowhere in all of creation where I can escape you. Your vast knowledge is both comforting and challenging. It’s comforting because I don’t have to pretend; but it’s challenging because I can’t hide. I confess that I don’t really WANT to be known this intimately. There are parts of me I’d rather keep hidden - from you and others. So show me today what parts of my life I’m trying to hide. Reveal to me where I’m trying to flee from your presence. And then, in your grace, chase me down and take hold of me. Search out my path, and bring me out of hiding. KNOW me, even where I resist being known, that I might be changed by your all-consuming presence.

Take time now specifically to intercede for yourself, your neighbors, your church, your city, and the world, bringing your needs and the needs of others before the Lord.

And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and always, until the day of Christ's return.

Scripture: Lamentations 1:1-16, Romans 5:12-19, Psalm 27

Writers: Mike Kresnik, Bob Thune, Darby Whealy, Tyler Anderson

Narrators: Charlotte Bertrand, Gary Nebeker, Bob Thune, Darby Whealy, Kevin Huddleston

Music: Dan Phelps and William Ryan Fitch

Production: Mike Kresnik, Bethany Gilbert

Sources: The Worship Sourcebook; The Valley of Vision; The Book of Common Prayer; + original contributions by the authors.

OPENING PRAYER

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

CONFESSION OF SIN & PRAYER FOR GRACE

Almighty God: I cannot keep silent about my sin; when I do, my bones waste away and your hand is heavy upon me. So I will acknowledge my sin to you, and I will not cover my iniquity. Today, I acknowledge the sin of ENTITLEMENT. I live with a demanding spirit that grabs, clutches, and expects, rather than with a generous spirit that thanks you and blesses others. Forgive me, O Lord, by the mercy of Jesus, who did not regard equality with you as something to be grasped, but emptied himself that I might be filled. Fill me up today with the freedom and joy of grace, for Your name’s sake: Amen. 

OT READING: Lamentations 1:1-16

THE LORD’S PRAYER

NT READING: Romans 5:12-19

PRAYER OF ADORATION:

Jesus: I praise you for being better than Adam; better than Moses. Where sin brings death, your free gift brings life. Where sin brings condemnation, you bring justification. Thank you for your grace which abounds for many.

PSALM READING:  Psalm 27

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

O Lord: as David wrote this psalm, he was under military threat, with every reason to fear for his life. Yet he responded by preaching to himself that the Lord was his stronghold. He describes his enemies gathered around him, prepared for war; but instead of fearing, he sets his mind on the temple. He asks to see the face of the Lord. As I read this psalm, I invite this psalm likewise to read me, to act as my teacher and guide. O Lord, give me the grace to seek your face even when my heart is pounding and my thoughts are scattered. When I ground myself in your light and beauty, I find the strength to wait patiently for you. Strengthen my confidence that I’ll see your goodness in the land of the living. Teach me what it means to abide in you, so that union with you becomes my daily habit. Fashion my inner life according to the example of this psalm and help me practice honest, confident prayer when I’m afraid today.   

BENEDICTION

And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and always, until the day of Christ's return.