March 30, 2021
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, as I enter Holy Week, I admit the depth of my distraction. Deep worship comes through deep reflection… but my soul is shallow. I am distracted and worried about many things. My soul lacks the peace and rest to meditate deeply on your cross. Thank you that you died for even this - your sacrifice covers even my weakness in pondering your sacrifice! By Your Spirit, increase my capacity for wonder, rest, and worship, as I set aside these moments to reflect on your Word. Through Jesus Christ, my Savior: Amen.
OT READING: Isaiah 49:1-7
THE LORD’S PRAYER
NT READING: Hebrews 4:14-5:9
PRAYER OF ADORATION:
Jesus, I adore you today as one who deals gently with the weak. You sympathize with my weaknesses, and you welcome me to draw near to find mercy and grace in my time of need. With confident humility, I draw near to you as my merciful high priest!
PSALM READING: Psalm 71
PRAYER OF CONSECRATION
O God: as I hear the words of this Psalm, I imagine them on the lips of Jesus as he journeyed toward the cross. The sorrow and distress expressed in this psalm anticipate what he must have experienced in the days before his death. I confess my tendency to avoid suffering and pain; I’m prone to ignore sadness and lament. But this is not the way of Jesus. He was acquainted with sorrow and grief, and never more than when he approached his death. When I’m tempted to acknowledge his suffering intellectually, and not engage it with my soul, I invite you to slow me down, orient my heart, and help me feel. Increase my sensitivity to my own sin, and to the dullness of my affections. And in those times when I labor under an oversized burden of guilt, remind me that Jesus has lifted my burden and I am free. Today, O God, be not far from me; make haste to help me. Let your Spirit work deeply in me, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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.