O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know my words before I speak them. You know my past, my present, and my future. Awaken me now, to seek you while you may be found, to call upon you while you are near, and to live a life that brings glory to your name.

Word of God Incarnate: you came to this world to accomplish salvation. By your grace, you call me to repent, to be crucified with you, and to be raised as a new creation. But I confess that often I do not live as a renewed person! I “go with the flow” instead of stemming the tide of sin. I allow the fruit of the Spirit to be choked out by the weeds of evil. Forgive me, for Jesus’ sake, and help me show evidence every day of your kingdom’s reign in my heart.

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.

JESUS: I adore you because you gave yourself up for us. You have given me an inheritance in your kingdom and have filled my life with light. As your beloved child, I long to imitate you and grow in your likeness.

Lord, this brief psalm is a song of ascent, sung as the people went up to your house to worship. The road to worship is joyful, but it ends with a complaint and a cry for mercy. This is true for my life as well; sometimes I worship you through the dim lens of discouragement or uncertainty. This is common to human beings, and I’m so grateful that you understand our frailty, inviting us to communicate openly with you about the whole range of our experience. You desire truth in my inner being, so I offer my prayers to you with the fullest expression of trust and honesty. I lift my eyes to you, depending on you for my care and nurture today. Have mercy on me, O Lord; have mercy on me. Amen.

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, you have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn me away in anger. Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

Almighty God, by whom all things were created and for whom all things exist, I bow before you in humility. Truly I have more than sufficient reasons to overflow with gratitude and thanksgiving. Yet how easily I default to complaining, whining, and grumbling. I acknowledge and grieve the entitlement and selfishness in my soul. Have mercy on me, O Lord. Free me for joyful gratitude and humble thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ my Savior: 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.

Father, I rejoice in your providence and in your promise that all things work together for my good. Thank you that as I share in your sufferings, you are glorified. And thank you that I am united to a Savior who upholds me, defends me, and sustains me.

Oh Lord, your word strengthens and comforts me. It speaks across the millennia to the deepest questions of the human heart. I understand what the psalmist means about the weariness of the waiting soul. I have questions that have never been answered. I have experiences that leave me uncertain. I have desires that have never found their expression, and capacities that have never been filled. Your word drops into my troubled waters like an anchor, grounding me as I wait for you. Teach me that my unmet desires are not tokens of defeat, but sacred invitations to cling fiercely to you. Take my thirsty soul into your care today, and satisfy me with your abundant lovingkindness. Be my help. Shelter me under your wings. Teach me to sing for joy. Amen.

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.

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid. Cleanse the thoughts of my heart by the working of your Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, joyfully obey you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ, our Lord: 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 God, I worship you as my sustainer and keeper. Thank you for the mystery of participation in the body and blood of Christ. Thank you for your sustaining grace in temptation. And thank you for these warnings, that I may not fall into presumption or complacency.

Lord, help me to be a careful student of David’s example today. In this Psalm, he expresses anxiety and suffering to You; he recalls Your faithfulness; and he responds with gratitude. I know my own soul. I know its old habit of withdrawing from You when my life is messy, confusing, or painful. My instinct is to pull away and try to fix things myself, only coming to you when I feel more presentable. But your word reminds me that you invite my weakness. When the psalm says, “behold, God is my helper,” that’s because you know that I need help, that my frame is dust, and that I must be rescued. So today, will you graciously form my inner person away from self-reliance? Use the circumstances of this day to build in me an instinctive and ongoing return to your love, for Jesus’ sake.

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. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Holy Spirit of God: I confess today my neglect of you. I am not yielded to your influence as I ought to be. I walk in the flesh rather than in the Spirit, and as a result I bear the fruit of the flesh rather than the fruit of the Spirit. Gracious Holy Spirit, forgive my sin and overcome my weakness. Subdue my restless heart and overwhelm me with your presence, that I might hear your voice clearly, yield to your control eagerly, and bear your fruit consistently. Through Christ, our Lord: 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 God, I adore you for your faithfulness to your promises. You give life to the dead and call into existence the things that do not exist. Thank you that you counted Abraham’s faith as righteousness; and thank you that you count me righteous by faith as well.

O God, when it comes to understanding you, this psalm reminds me that the natural world is my first teacher. The sky above, the world around me - even my own backyard reveals your beauty, goodness, and power. The psalm shows me that my next teacher is your law, which offers a blazing vision of your people living well in balanced, right relationship with you. It guides me, refines me, and calls me to wholeness. It reminds me that your wisdom aligns the distorted places in my soul and makes me truly human. I’m not good at discerning my own errors, so I add my prayer to the psalmist’s: keep me from presumptuous sins today. Watch over the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart; make them acceptable in your sight. You see all, and nothing in my life is hidden from you. So search out and refine every hidden part of me, that I may wholly please you in all I do.

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, God of my salvation, every day I call upon you, in the morning my prayer comes before you. Incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my strength fails. Renew me each morning with your steadfast love, that I may rejoice and be glad all my days.

Merciful Father, I come before you today not in penitent fear but in repentant faith. Because you have raised me up with Christ, I now humble myself before you. I confess that I have been proud, attempting to live an autonomous life and believing the lie of self-sufficiency. I have avoided Jesus by treasuring other things more than you and your kingdom. Have mercy on me today, O Lord my God, and empower me for greater trust, submission, and obedience, through Christ my Savior: 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 as God’s true prophet, filled with zeal for righteousness, and as God’s true sacrifice, sent to cleanse his people from their sin. Nothing is hidden from you; all of the desires and motives of men are made plain to you. Thank you that because you know what is in man, you know what is in ME - and you are able to transform the deepest recesses of my heart.

O Lord, thank you for the refreshing honesty of this Psalm. The Psalmist cries: “Awake! Why are you sleeping, Lord?” Yet elsewhere, your word says you NEVER slumber or sleep. And so I’m reminded that the language of prayer is the language of honesty and lament. In my own life, it does sometimes seem as though you’re asleep. I experience trouble. I encounter unexpected trials. I bear ongoing burdens in my mind and body. You, Lord Jesus, know this suffering because you experienced it too. My suffering connects me to your suffering. You faced your trial alone, so that I could face mine with the full comfort and care of God. So today, rise up and help me. Do not hide your face from me. Teach me to cling to you, even in difficulty. Redeem me and deliver me, for the sake of your steadfast 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.

Lord God Almighty: open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things in your law. Open my ears, that I may tremble at your Word. Open my lips, that my mouth may declare your praise. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. For you I wait all the day long.

God of mercy, whose Son, Jesus Christ, beckons me with the wide embrace of his love: I confess that I have been a wayward child. I have disobeyed your commands; I have been deaf to your call; I have been cold to your love. In thought, word, and deed, I have hurt others and dishonored your name. In your great mercy, receive me again as your beloved child, not because I am worthy, but for the sake of Jesus, who loved me and gave himself for me.

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.

Jesus: I praise you for your resolute faithfulness to your mission. No amount of human cunning or political scheming could deter you from setting your face toward Jerusalem and the cross that awaited you there. Thank you that because of your faithfulness, I have been redeemed.

O God: thank you for the way this psalm instructs me in times of uncertainty and fear. The psalmist’s enemies gather on every side, rising relentlessly against him. Yet he responds, not with fear, but with a radical confidence in the protective care of God. Salvation, he says, belongs to the Lord. And he lays down to sleep. As I confront my own stresses and anxieties, I thank you that you are a shield about me. I lift my cares and concerns to you. Be my glory. Lift my head. Let me sleep deeply, knowing that you sustain me and surround me with your salvation. Remind me that because I belong to Jesus, I can be at peace in the midst of my enemies, resting in your loving care. Finally, God: please break the teeth of the wicked. Deliver the vulnerable from those who would harm them, and look after all who are in need today. Amen.

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, you have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn me away in anger. Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

Lord God, in Christ you have adopted me as your beloved child. But I confess that deep inside my soul I doubt your love for me. Instead of being satisfied in your acceptance, I look for acceptance elsewhere. Instead of resting in your love, I am restless with fear, control, and worry. Forgive my lack of trust in your promises. Forgive my doubt of your great love. Let your perfect love cast out all fear, and free me to glorify and enjoy you fully. In Jesus’ name. 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.

Jesus: I praise you for your transforming power. I rejoice that because I am united with you, my citizenship is in heaven. By grace, I stand firm in you, and I await the day when you will transform my lowly body to be like your glorious body.

God, today I lift up my eyes and ask: from where does my help come? My help comes from you, the one who keeps me. Thank you that today, no matter what I face, I can count on your sustaining grace to hold me steady, to give me strength, and to keep me grounded in your promises. You never slumber or sleep; you are always vigilant. In Jesus, you WILL keep me from all evil. Though momentary evils may be my lot, my future is incredibly bright. Though trouble, sickness, pain, and even death may come my way, none of them has the final say; for in Jesus Christ you have swallowed up death and given me life eternal. My life is in your hands. So today, whatever I face, let me rest confidently in your sovereignty and trust in your good providence. Do not let my foot be moved from the narrow path of faith and obedience.

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.