We come together in your courts to hear the stories of your goodness and providence. You are here with us and invite us to listen and understand how you have been with us and our ancestors. You deliver us from the Intruder who conspires against us. You take the very tools meant to harm us and turn them into our blessings. Your mercy, grace, and blessings are more than we can comprehend.
We celebrate your blessings showering upon us and others! You teach us how to celebrate others by first celebrating ourselves as your beloved. We will lift up those in our community and all those you bring before us. We look to you for wisdom and discernment to honour and greet each other in a good way.
In your holy sanctuary we meet with you. You clothe us in royal robes. We seek you and hear you ask, “What do you want? What is your request?” Thank you that we, your children, have found favour in your eyes. Thank you for listening to our requests and granting them.
We come seeking you, only to find you are here waiting to be sought by us. We often wonder how to have a relationship and conversations with you. We read books, listen to lectures, watch videos, and talk with others. Praying seems so difficult. You gently remind us that all we need to do is seek you and ask you. Thank you for giving us what we ask for. Thank you for opening the door.
Today, we invite you to ‘Reread, Rest and Reflect’ on the prayers of the past week:
Lectionary Readings for Today:
Psalm 138:1-8
Esther 4:1-17
Luke 8:22-25
We cast all our cares before you and celebrate the ease with which we can journey on our paths when we follow your guidance. We step with you in confidence and faith that you are attentive to all our needs. Walk with us through this circle of life so we will keep our eyes on you and celebrate your presence with us, and be ready when you call us to eternity with you upon your holy mountain.
All-knowing, All-seeing God, you are here with us, waiting for us, as we draw close to you. You speak words of loving kindness, warning us of what is at our threshold and what we are using as guards at the doorway to our inner beings. Today, we choose you as our guard, you who protects us, gives us life, and gives us the best of the best. We remove the imposter guards who seek to destroy us. Praise to you, our Provider, our Protector.
We enter your sacred prayer space preparing for worship. As we arrive, you welcome us as we are, even though we still carry our worldly idols and household gods. You open your space to us and offer us room to lay these down in your presence. We struggle to release what we have gathered and built with our own hands. But you remind us of our journey yet to come, the destination where other gods and idols are useless. You invite us to empty ourselves so you can fill us.
Before we trip, you point out the obstacles on our path. When we stumble, you catch us from falling. When we wander, your gentle arms guide us back to your path and welcome us into your embrace. Only by your divine intervention and grace can we say we are forgiven. Only by your divine intervention and grace can we forgive ourselves and others. Fill us with your mercy so we will sojourn with you and greet each other in a good way.
We, your people, hear of the mighty works you have done. We join together to commune with each other and with you. Praise to you, O Yahweh, for the miracles, blessings, and provisions.