Shared Prayers On This Second Sunday of Lent

This is the second Sunday in our 40 day journey of Lent - heading towards Easter.  We’ll begin today with a prayer by Martin Luther as we open our hearts to God, seeking His love and passion in this day:

Look upon your servant, O Lord, weak in faith and asking for your strength; cold in heart, but seeking the warmth of your love; assailed by doubt but longing to trust you; abounding in sin, yet begging to be filled with your righteousness; now and forever. Amen Martin Luther, 1483-1546

1600 years earlier the Apostle Paul was also praying about the love of God to be rooted in our hearts as well and so we pray for ourselves and for our church family, as well as our own circle of family and friends, and those who don’t yet know the goodness of the Lord:

 … that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:17-19

We are always in need of God’s cleansing and healing.  According to James 4:8 we dare to approach God with our sin: 

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  James 4:8

We now ask God to change us and remake us like Himself:

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent.  Help us to see ourselves as You see us. Take from us all those things that keep us from being effective, compassionate, patient, and humble servants in Your kingdom.  Create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, lamenting our sins and acknowledging our brokenness may receive from you, the God of all mercy, forgiveness and restoration through Jesus Christ. Lord, enrich us with Your grace, nourish us with Your blessing; defend us in trouble and keep us from all evil. 

Our success in this day comes as we follow the familiar instructions found in Proverbs 3:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.  Proverbs 3:5-8

Lord, we’re here today with open hands and open hearts, ready to depend on you to help us through the day and all it will bring our way. Give us light and strength, O God, to know your will. Guide us by your wisdom and support us by your power. Unite us to yourself in Your love and keep us faithful to all that is true. Help us to come to you often throughout the day for guidance, strength, provision and protection. Take our hand and lead us.  As we face tough choices and hard situations, help us to keep in mind that we are beloved by You.  We are your children as well as Your representatives to the world around us.  Help us to  live today in a way that brings honor to Your holy name. Amen.

Philippians 4:6 reminds us:  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  Philippians 4:6

So, we’ll take a moment now to give thanks to God – remembering just a bit of all His generosity in our lives.

Accept our thanks and praise, Lord, for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor and beauty of creation, for the blessing of family and friends.  Thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts and lead us to accomplishments that bring joy and satisfaction. We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone. Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life, for the gift of His death and resurrection on our behalf. 

Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14