Prayer: Our Glorious God in heaven: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we adore you today, and thank you for giving to us another Lord’s Day when we can come and serve you with holy fear and reverence, rejoicing as we come to the house of the Lord. We delight in your name and thank you that you are our God and we are your people.
As we pray this morning, we are mindful of our sins and transgressions. We know and confess that we fall short of your glory. We long to love you with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength, and our neighbor as we love ourselves. We are ashamed of how rarely we look at our hearts and see the failures while, at the same time, express so little grace to others. Forgive us, Father, for our pride and arrogance and our tendency to be judgmental about everyone’s faults. Forgive us for being overly critical of one another, your people of whom your Son loves, nourishes, guides, and directs. Forgive us for every unkind, graceless, mean-spirited word that comes from our lips. Rid out of our black hearts these things and grant to us the forgiveness that you promise in your Word.
We plead with you to show us your glory today as we gather to worship you. We beg for more of the Holy Spirit as we sing, pray, and hear your Word read and preached. Grant mercy to us and help us to listen to what your Son says to his church today. We pray this in His Name. Amen.
Scripture meditation: Ex. 20:8; Psa. 2:11; Psa. 122:1; Rom. 3:23; Mark 12:30, 31; Eph. 4:31, 32; 1 John 1:9
