October 22, 2020
OPENING PRAYER
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.
CONFESSION OF SIN & PRAYER FOR GRACE
Almighty God: I confess with the Psalmist that your law is perfect. The way of your commandments is the way of life; your statutes are full of wisdom. Yet I have violated your law; I have broken your commandments; I have dishonored your name. I ask your forgiveness; and I thank you for sending Jesus, who perfectly obeyed your law and died for my sin so that I might live to righteousness. By Your grace, fill me with Your Spirit, that I might walk in wholehearted obedience to you. Amen.
OT READING: Isaiah 45:1-13
THE LORD’S PRAYER
NT READING: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
PRAYER OF ADORATION:
Holy Spirit, I adore you for your powerful work to open minds and convict hearts as the gospel is preached. Moreover, I rejoice that even after conversion, you continue to mold, form, and sanctify your people as they become imitators of Christ Jesus. I adore you, Spirit, for your presence within me and for the works you do through me.
PSALM READING: Psalm 99
PRAYER OF CONSECRATION
O Lord, how do justice and mercy both find their source in you? How do vengeance and forgiveness both belong to you? This Psalm looks back to Moses, Aaron, and Samuel as priests and representatives of your people. Your righteousness is displayed both in your forgiveness of their sins and in your vengeance for their wrongdoings. So help me today to remember both your forgiveness and your justice. May I live today with great confidence and trust, knowing that you have forgiven my sin in Christ; but may I also live with great fear and reverence, knowing that you desire holiness from your people. Let me make no excuses for sin today; rather, let me pursue holiness with my whole being.
BENEDICTION
And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit abide and remain with us, now and throughout our time on earth, until the day of His return: Amen.