The Glorious Deeds of Christ

 

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us (Luke 17:13).

O’ Lord, Father of all mercies, whose compassions never fail and whose mercies never cease. Your mercy is gracious goodness to those of us who are miserable and distressed because of our sin. Look upon us, your servants, with Your never failing love, extend to us your compassion on our many struggles, failings, shortcomings, and sins. We are frail, yet You are strong. We are needy, yet You are compassionate. We are sinful, yet You are forgiving. Lord, your mercy is boundless and free through our Lord Jesus Christ, bestow upon us Your compassion now in our present distress; through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

~~ Fr. Glenn E. Davis

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5: 15, 16).

Father, we repent of misusing social media. We have failed to see it as an extension of our Christian witness. We are more concerned about our image than your Presence. We confess that we sometimes post things that are inappropriate and reflect poorly on your Name. We confess spending time on Facebook while neglecting your Word. We confess our own failure to reflect before we post hurtful or thoughtless things. We repent of giving into our flesh by blasting others online for not sharing our viewpoints. Help us glorify you by our online presence and to walk in wisdom.  In Jesus’s Name. Amen. 

–Nicholas Beckham

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“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). 

Lord, we confess making an idol out our own desires. We have listened to the lies of our hearts that tell us we can find satisfaction in things other than you. We covet and cannot get what we want. We want new cars, new electronics, more money, higher positions and greater control. We crave what others have while ignoring the many blessings you have laid at our feet. Forgive us, Lord for setting our affections on things that don’t satisfy. We invite you to tear down the idols that we have enthroned in our hearts. Help us to behold your infinite beauty and value.

–Nicholas Beckham

The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go” (John 11: 38-44).

Lord, Your miracles remind us of how powerful you are. You are a powerful God who leads all of us out of bondage, who delivers us from the grips of the evil one, who feeds the five thousand with one loaf and two fish, who heals the sick and raises people from the dead.

You are more powerful than oppressive governments, dictatorial authorities, extreme sickness, and evil itself. Forgive us for not remembering Your miracles found in the Bible. We pray, increase our faith. Your awesome power is at work in our daily lives. You make the impossible, possible. You are worthy to be praised when the impossible happens, our lives are changed forever. Your great miracles come only from Your loving hands. We glory in your Name. Amen.

~~ India B. Davis

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Mark 8:34 ESV).

Lord, we need your grace to bear this Cross that you have placed before us. You call us to take up the Cross, but so often we walk the other way. So many other things seem more pressing, more appealing. We are not good with self-denial. Give us grace to see every situation as an opportunity for you to manifest your life in us. Open our ears to hear your voice saying to us, “This is the way, walk in it.” Take away the sinful attitudes and desires that cause us to choose short-term pleasure over the abundant life that you offer us in Christ. We cannot carry the Cross in our own power, we need you to live your life through us.

~~Nicholas Beckham

I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy (Psalm 116:1). 

We love You, O our God, and our only desire is to love You until the last breath of our lives. We love You, O our infinitely lovable God, and we would rather die loving You, than live without loving You. We love You, Lord and the only grace we ask is to love You eternally. Our God, if our tongues cannot say in every moment that we love You, we want our hearts to repeat it to You as often as we draw breath. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

–Prayer of St. John Vianney (modified to plural pronouns)

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life (John 8:12, NLT). 

Dear Father in heaven, our refuge for this day and for each day to come, touch us with the finger of your power. Be our protection and strong defense against all attacks of darkness. Where people look to you out of the darkness, let their eyes grow shining bright with the light from your eyes. Let your light shine within us and around us. Let your light bring your cause to victory, to the final great day of Jesus Christ. Amen.

–Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, Lift Thine Eyes

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us (2 Cor. 4:7 ESV). 

Precious Jesus, Lord of grace and mercy, we pray flood our souls with your Holy Spirit that we might minister your abundant life. So penetrate our hearts and fill our spirits that our lives may utterly and completely be yours. Lord, we love you and praise you for working through weak jars of clay like us. Pray, convict us of our stubborn ways and selfish actions. Forgive us for being insensitive to others’ needs and for disregarding your holy will and express commands. Lord Jesus, we pray you, come and transform us into your image. We desperately need your power. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

~~Fr. Glenn E. Davis