Purity: Day 16, 21 Days of Prayer

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23, 24 NASB95).

Prayer: Today begins five days of supplication as our 21 days of prayer draw to an end. When we honestly and humbly open our hearts to God we are struck by the contradiction of God’s ferocious love for us and our utter unworthiness to receive it. As we progress in our relationship with Him this contradiction only deepens and we realize our desperate need of Jesus who alone resolves this contradiction by His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Hope awakens when we learn that by His blood He removes all barriers between us and God and He invites us to come to Him as children with even our smallest concerns. (Hebrews 4:16) With that confidence, let us ask God to draw us closer to Him and make us more like Jesus by praying the familiar, but profound Collect for Purity:

“Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

~~Fr. Scott Howard