Tag: Lent

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Matt. 5:5 ESV

Lord, thank you for revealing my sin so that I can see myself honestly. Thank you for bringing me to the place of conviction, the place of admitting that I’m not meek. On a very good day, I might be meek in your presence, but behind a car that’s slowing me down, I’m not meek. I believe I have a right to the road. The cultural habits of my race and my family do not lean toward meekness; the world I live in does not encourage meekness and I pray for forgiveness for following every leading, but yours.

Lord Jesus, help me to seek the obedience, the truth of brother and sisterhood and the joy in surrendering my rights to you. Provide me with the reins for my wild-horse nature, the shackles to bind the demons that would attack me and a shield of protection against bitterness when things don’t go the way I want. Let me imitate you, Lord Christ, for you are meek and lowly of heart. Change my heart to make it be like yours. Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer. Amen.

~~ Nancy Beckham

The Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

Lord, thank you for the confidence we have in you to watch over us and to guide us in ways of righteousness. Thank you for your unfailing faithfulness that overcomes the oppression of the enemy. You guard your children with your power, you keep us safe in your arms of grace. Thank you that no matter how trying our circumstances may seem you are far greater, you are higher, you are mightier, you are I AM. We look to you and we praise you for your faithfulness because Satan has no power over us, you have paid the penalty for our sin. We give you thanks, Lord Jesus, because we stand in your victory over our sin. Thank you for showing us what true faith looks like. In Jesus’s Name. Amen.

~~ Abby Howard

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.Col 3:17.

Col 3:17 ESV

We thank you, Lord God, for we are genuinely grateful from our hearts for we see your appointment in the midst of our disappointments. We trust your goodness irrespective of our unexplained difficulties, chronic trials, and persistent obstacles. We say, “yes” to your grace knowing that whether good or bad, you can use our circumstances for your glory and our growth. We are thankful for we serve you, a loving God, who always has our best interest at heart. Lord, we pray, make us more and more thankful every day. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

~~ Fr. Glenn E. Davis

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.

Psalm 100:4

Lord, as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of the Resurrection, even as we repent and seek your forgiveness, call us every day to worship you: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let us see clearly that free access to your presence is our born-again birthright and that no matter how far we’ve strayed, joyful worship is just on the other side of repentance. Nothing we can do, or have done, is too great for you to forgive. Call to us, O Lord, and give us grace to hear and run to you. Amen.

~~Nancy Beckham

SaveSave

He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones (Proverbs 2:7-8 NIV). 

Lord, we thank you that our success comes only by your hand and not from our own striving. We were created by you and all our talents are gifts from you. We are grateful that anything we would call successful is an example of your gracious and merciful love.

You protect us from the evil one, he cannot separate us from your love. You keep us on the straight path even when we begin to stray from you. You protect our going out and coming in. Thank you, you are faithful even when are faithless. The power of your Holy Spirit and the depth of your love knows no bounds. Thank you, Lord, that you hold us with “your righteous right hand.” We give this day to you with very grateful hearts. Amen!

~~India B. Davis

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thess. 5:16–18 ESV)

You have given so much to me, Give one thing more, a grateful heart.~~George Herbert

Eternal God, my sovereign Lord, I acknowledge all I am, all I have is yours. Give me such a sense of your infinite goodness that I may return to you all possible love and obedience. Lord, teach me, I pray, what it means to give thanks to you in and for all things. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

~~Adapted from John Wesley

For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Rom. 7:15 ESV

Our sin lies in nothing else but in loving what you hate and hating what you love. I confess, eternal God, that I have constantly loved what you hate and hated what you loved. But today, I cry out in the presence of your mercy: grant that I may follow your truth with a simple heart; give me the deep well and fire of charity; give me a continual hunger to endure pains and torments for you. Eternal Father, give my eyes a fountain of tears with which to draw your mercy down over all the world, and especially your bride.

~~St. Catherine of Siena

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mark 8:38 ESV

Lord, I confess making an idol of what other people think. I am a slave to the fear of man. Too many times I am reluctant to be associated with you, the cross, and the gospel. Too many times I keep silent when I know I should share your good news with others who desperately need it. Forgive me for accepting things that you disapprove in order to be accepted by the world that disapproves of you. You chose to be rejected as the worst criminal rather than be accepted by the wealthy and influential. Forgive me for valuing the approval of my friends and co-workers more than your approval. I thank you for the blood-bought forgiveness of Jesus. Amen.

~~Nicholas Beckham