The Watchword for the Week:
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes. Psalm 19:8
From the busyness that fills our daily lives,
We gather to fix our attention on God’s way.
From the distractions that re-order our life’s priorities,
We gather to fix our attention on God’s way.
From the slumber into which our faith can sometimes fall,
We gather to fix our attention on God’s way.
Psalm 19: 7-14
The law of God is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of God are sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of God are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of God is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of God is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of God are true
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also
from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you,
O God, my rock and my redeemer.
Let us humbly confess our sins.
Gracious God, we affirm that your way is perfect. The Biblical witness and the life of Jesus Christ give us the pattern by which we should live out our faith, but we have chosen to walk on our own path. We confess that we have found it all too easy to follow the way of our culture and have made keeping your commandments an option, rather than an expectation for our lives.
So we humbly ask that you create in us a clean heart, O God, and place within us that understanding that will help us to see your way and to observe it with our whole heart.
Lord have mercy on us.
The Lord says to us: I will forgive your iniquity and remember your sin no more. Peace be with you.
With grateful hearts we say: 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 and ponder the Daily Texts for today or read one of this week's assigned Scripture lessons from the Lectionary. Don't rush over this as if it were a task to complete, instead anticipate that in some way God is gifting you with words of wisdom for use in your daily life. This week's lessons are as follows: Numbers 11:4-6,10-16,24-29; Psalm 19:7-14James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50.
After reading the Texts for today, pray for yourself, those you love, and for the needs of a hurtig world. Pray for peace in those parts of the world that are currently in the midst of war. Remember that people on both sides of a conflict lose loved ones.
Use the following prayer to complete your time of intersession:
Creator of us all, we praise your name because you have lovingly made each one of us. May your intended purpose be made real here on earth, even as it is already done in heaven. Feed us today with those things that we truly need, and may we share our abundance with others. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have done wrong to us. In times of temptation, may we know of your life giving strength, and keep us from all evil. Gracious God, this is your kingdom, and we acknowledge your power and glory, both now and forever more. AMEN.
Just as God created an Eden in which all was made to work together,
God has created a pattern of life which is intended to bring us to wholeness.
That wholeness was shown to us as Jesus brought the law of God into human form.
Jesus showed us a way of grace and forgiveness even though life was made difficult for him by the sin of the world.
We pray that God might awaken in us the desire to follow his path more closely amidst the temptations and difficulties of our lives.
Come, Holy Spirit, show us the way, the truth, and the life.
Whatever we do, therefore, whether in word or deed, let us do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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