Prayers for the 24th Sunday after Pentecost (November 15-21, 2020)

mission work

The Watchword for the week:
So teach us, O God, to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.                                 Psalm 90:12

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid;
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
Today may we perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name,
And now, visit us with your Holy Spirit as we open our hearts to you. Amen.

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 90:1-9, 12

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn us back to dust, and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”
4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning;
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are consumed by your anger; by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; our years come to an end like a sigh.
12 So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.

We come before the throne of grace to unburden our hearts and to receive forgiveness. Let us confess our sins. 

Gracious God, we affirm you as our creator, our redeemer, and the sustainer of our lives. You love us so very much that you have reached into our lives to claim us as your own. However, we confess that we take your love for granted, and your grace is often forgotten. We allow our lives to become so cluttered that we forget to stop and count the steps that we have taken on any given day and ponder whether those steps have moved us closer or farther away from you. In so doing, we often lose count of our days and the wisdom that we can gain from observing them. When these uncounted days mount up, we can find ourselves in places where we thought we would never be. We humbly ask that you hear our prayer, know our hearts, and forgive us for our sins.

The Lord says to each of us: “I will be merciful to your sins, and I will not remember them. Peace be unto you.” Let us give praise to the triune God:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Take time to read today’s Daily Texts.  Remember that God speaks to us through the inspiration of scripture, so approach the opportunity to read the texts as a privilege, eagerly anticipating what might be spoken to you today. How might today’s Word make a part of your life new again? If you do not have a copy of the Daily Texts, you will find today’s texts posted in the margin on the right of your page (at the bottom of the page if you are on a mobile phone). When you have finished praying, continue as follows.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us. 

Creator of us all, we praise your name because you have lovingly made each one of us. May your intended purpose be made real here on earth, even as it is already done in heaven. Feed us today with those things that we truly need, and may we share our abundance with others. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have done wrong to us. In times of temptation, may we know of your life-giving strength and keep us from all evil. Gracious God, this is your kingdom, and we acknowledge your power and glory, both now and forevermore. AMEN.

Empowering God, just as you created the heavens and the earth,
May you create within us a new life.
Open the eyes of our heart
To see the impact that our every word and action can have on the lives around us.
You give us each day as a blessed gift.
Guide us and lead us not only to count this day but to make this day count for the kingdom of God.
May the love of God, the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be and abide with us now and forever. AMEN.