The watchword for the week:
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Eternal Spirit of the living God, be for us the fountain of water
creating and sustaining us each day,
be for us the enlivening wind
searching us out and cleansing us,
be for us the refining, warming flame
steadying and transforming our desires,
that, lovingly and truthfully,
we may pray, and we may live.
Psalm 68:1-10,32-35
1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered;
let those who hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.
3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God;
let them be jubilant with joy.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds — his name is the Lord— be exultant before him.
5 Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, (Selah)
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad;
you restored your heritage when it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the river on foot.
There we rejoiced in him,
32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
sing praises to the Lord, (Selah)
33 O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel;
and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
Let us Confess Your Sins
Against you have we sinned, gracious Lord. You provide for the lilies of the field, yet we doubt your love for us. We often live our lives out of a sense of anxiety rather than the assurance of grace. Forgive us, therefore:
- From the sin of unbelief
- From all defilement of the flesh and spirit
- From all self-righteousness
- From every neglect of our duty
- From all ingratitude and selfishness
- From lukewarmness in our love for you and our neighbor, and
- From indifference to all that you have provided for us.
God’s very being is grace. God’s every intent is to welcome you home. Receive God’s forgiveness and rest in God’s love. Let us praise 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.
God speaks to us through the inspiration of Scripture. So approach the opportunity to read the Daily Texts as a privilege, eagerly anticipating what might be spoken to you today. How might this new word transform a part of your life? If you do not have a copy of the Daily Texts, you will find them 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.
As you taught your disciples to pray, we pray together:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
Build yourselves on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Resting in God’s grace, let us think on these things:
Let us think about things that are honorable, things that are just, things that are pure, things that are lovely, things that are worthy of a good report, things that are virtuous, and things that are worthy of praise.
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.