The Watchword for the week:
O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me. Psalm 43:3
Gracious God, gather us into this time and place.
You have been with us throughout this day, but we have not always been aware of your presence. We feel it now.
Give us your spirit of reconciliation,
So that with you we may restore lost relationships, and make whole that which is broken.
Guide us to seek your light,
To brighten each dark corner of our souls.
Psalm for the Week: Psalm 43
1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; from those who are deceitful and unjust deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you cast me off? Why must I walk about mournfully because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
If we say that we have no sin, we have deceived ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us.
Loving God, we want to live in your light, and we want to be people of truth, but we confess that there are times when we find ourselves in darkness. We retreat to dark places because it is here that we fool ourselves into thinking that you won’t see us, and it is here that we separate ourselves from you. This darkness then imprisons us with shame and we withhold truth from even those that we love. May your light shine into our dark corners, banish the shadows, and release the truth so that we might be liberated by your grace. Hold us close and build our relationship with you and those you have given us on earth.
The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you.” Standing in the light, let us give praise to the triune God:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Take time now to read of the Daily Texts. Don't rush while reading, you are not reading to get it done, you are reading to gain meaning. Stop and ponder words and phrases that catch your attention.
As you finish with the prayer from the Daily Text, spend an extended time praying for the joys and concerns in your life. This week pray especially for the United States as we come to the conclusion of this election cycle. We pray that God's will may be known and done among us. At the conclusion of your prayer continue as follows:
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.
Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sins,as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and forever. Amen
Lord, your light is wonderful.
May your light and truth shine forth from our lives.
Lord, your light is marvelous.
May your light and truth shine forth from our lives.
Lord, your light fills this dark world of sin.
May your light and truth shine forth from our lives.
Lord, your light gives us hope for a new day.
May your light and truth shine forth from our lives.
Lord, your Word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light for our path.
May your light and truth shine forth from our lives.
And now may the Lord’s blessing be upon you.
May the Lord’s face shine upon you.
May the Lord’s countenance be lifted upon you, and give you peace.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
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