Prayer: Our majestic God and Father, the maker of all things and the one who holds all things in your hands, we come to you to pray and plead for the things we need. Though we are creatures of dust, you have redeemed us through the work of your Son. Due to his active and passive obedience, you have demonstrated your love to us that in being pleased to crush Him, we have been rescued from a life of sin and misery. Yet, we still live in the body. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Therefore, we stumble in many ways. Like sheep, we often go our own way. Yet, we have an advocate, Jesus Christ the Righteous, and we appeal to you through him that you would forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We thank you, our Father, that your infinite wisdom gave us one day in seven to remind us of the rest we have in the Lord Jesus. He is our Sabbath rest, and yet, there remains a Sabbath for us to remind us of our love and favor and the hope of the New Heavens and the New Earth. Therefore, please help us, by the Eternal Spirit, to honor and use this day as you have commanded. May we use it for the public and private worship of your great name. May we use it for acts of mercy and necessity. May we use it to enjoy the fellowship we have with our brothers and sisters. May we use it to hear from you as your Word is proclaimed. Please meet with us today, holy Father. Please grant us a willing mind and heart to do what you tell us through your Word proclaimed. May you help us to be hearers and doers of your Word we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Meditation: Gen. 1; Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11; Is. 58:13-14; Jas. 1:22-25
