Almighty God,
In your graciousness, and by your Holy Spirit, you bless us with this time and place of sanctuary and rest in your son Jesus Christ. You bless us by inviting us to speak to you in prayer. Hear our prayer Lord through your Son. Grant us the comfort that in Him we find hope, mercy, love, and rest.
Lord,
Instead of dependence on you, we so often choose sinful independence from you. Convinced of our own wisdom. Trusting in our own righteousness. Striving to justify ourselves before God on account of our own works, only to find that we do what we don’t want to do, and don’t do what your Spirit calls us to do. Turn our hearts to confess with the apostle Paul, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
As members of your church, the very body of Christ..where we are corrupt, Lord, purify us; where we are in error, correct us; where we are amiss, reform us; where we are in need, provide for us; where we are divided, reconcile us; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ.
You alone can lead us from darkness into the light of your grace, and the darkness cannot overcome it. You alone can lead us from captivity to true freedom. You alone can lead us from fear into a peace that passes all understanding. You alone can lead us from despair into joy. You alone can lead us from condemnation into forgiveness. By your Word, Help us to believe in the name of our Savior faithfully and steadfastly, for He is steadfast and faithful for us. For He alone is our light, He alone is our righteousness and wisdom, He alone is our comfort and peace, He alone is our justification and sanctification, for He alone is our salvation. Hold fast to us in these truths, Lord. Unburden our troubled hearts and minds. Have us rest in the person and work of Christ alone. Christ crucified, Christ risen, Christ living, Christ reigning.
AMEN.