“Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah, we found it in the field of
Jaar.  Let us go into His dwelling place;
let us worship at His footstool.”  (Psalm
132:6-7)

The Lord has created all
things.  They are all His, for He made
them.  He shares with all freely.  But what could we possibly build that
compares to His magnificence?  Do not
dwell upon a dwelling place, but dwell with the Lord in the life He has given
you.  Come into His presence with praise
and thanksgiving and know that the Lord is our hope for an eternal future.  Abide in His presence all your days.

Lord, lead me in the way You would have me go.  I have wandered through this life and sought
after the things of my heart and mind. 
Guide me now to seek after those things which are pleasing in Your
sight.  Show me according to Your
goodness how I may now and always seek Your will and live according to Your
purpose.  Help me, Lord, to see clearly
the way You would have me go.

Lord Jesus, through Your Spirit, You have shown me that You have come to save.  Guide me now, O Lord, that I may walk in the way of salvation.  Lead me to do such things as You would do them, Help me now and always to live according to the Father’s will that I would learn to fully abide in You as You abide in me.  Let me walk this journey of faith with You.  Amen.

“Surely I will not enter my house, nor lie on my bed; I will not give
sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, a
dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 
(Psalm 132:3-5)

Who can build something that can
adequately house the Lord?  But why build
something?  Why not invite the Lord to
dwell in you.  He made you and this is
what He has asked to do.  Come then,
abide in Him and He in You, that you may be the dwelling of the Lord.  Know that in Him is truth and life and apart
from Him is nothing.  The Almighty will
dwell with and in You always if you receive Him.

Lord, this is a great mystery, yet this is what You have said.  Not with gold or silver, but with my life do
I invite you in.  Come then and prepare
my life to receive You that where You are I may also be.  Guide me according to Your goodness and mercy
to see that in You alone is all hope and glory. 
May I humbly learn from You and dwell with You and You with me all the
days of my life.

Lord Jesus, You have come for
this very reason.  You told us that if we
destroyed the temple You would raise it up on the third day.  That is what You did.  You showed us that the temple was Your
body.  You have invited me to abide in
You and You in me that I might do good works that bring glory to the
Father.  Lead me, Lord Jesus, in the way
of everlasting life that I may learn to abide in You forever.  Amen.

“Remember, O Lord, on David’s behalf, all his affliction; how he swore
to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,” (Psalm 132:1-2)

David was an interesting
person.  On the one hand, he was so worldly
and sinful.  On the other, he always
turned to the Lord and loved Him.  Love
of the Lord is the heart of the faith. 
Love as the Lord loves.  Come into
His presence and know that the Lord is always good and kind.  Trust in Him above all things and be guided
by His goodness and mercy.  Come to the
Lord as David did.

Lord, You know the conflicts in my heart and soul.  Guide me, O Lord, through all of the pitfalls
that come my way.  Help me in every time
of need.  Help me to look to You first
and foremost.  Whether I have sinned or
am in adversity, guide me, O Lord, according to Your goodness and mercy.  Give me a heart that longs after You.  Grant that my soul would live into the life
You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You have come that those who follow You would be lifted up with You to become like You.  Lead me this day, O Lord, that I would look to You as my guide, strength and shield.  Help me at all times to include You in all that I do.  May I be found in Your presence, walking with You throughout all of my days.  You have come to save me Lord, and in You I hope.  Amen.

“O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; nor do I involve
myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me.  Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child
within me.  O Israel, hope in the Lord
From this time forth and forever.” 
(Psalm 131:1-3)

Listen to the list of things
that take us in the wrong direction.  Too
proud, haughty eyes and being involved in things that are too deep to be able
to handle.  Stay away from these things
and quiet your soul.  Be composed, quiet
your soul and come before the Lord. 
These are the ways the Lord gives to 
prepare you to walk on the journey of faith with Him.  Come to the place where He can work on you.

Meditate upon this list and you see that these are the common issues we
all have.  We want to be more than we
are; but we are whom the Lord made us to be. 
Be guided by what the Lord has said is necessary.  Face your pride and walk humbly with the LORD.  Who are you that you can boast to anyone about
anything?  Be contrite and humble when
You come before the Lord; but also know that He hears and will listen to your
prayers.

Lord Jesus, You are the exemplar of the godly life.  All of these things listed You are.  You who are the King of kings became a servant.  Help me to follow Your example and live into the life to which You are calling me.  Guide me, O Lord, now and always to simply live the life You have given me knowing that only in You is there hope.  May I be found walking like You Jesus in this world.  Amen.   

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“O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is lovingkindness,
and with Him is abundant redemption.  And
He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” 
(Psalm 130:7-8)

It is so simple and we make it
so complex.  The world offers the same
thing over and over again; sin, death, and the devil.  The Lord frees us from this bondage so that
we may live differently.  He has promised
to redeem those who turn to Him.  So,
turn to Him.  This does not mean all will
be well in this world.  It means that all
will be well with your soul.  Come then
to the Lord and receive His abundant redemption.

Lord, You know that I am filled with the pablum of this world.  You know that I am selfish and want things as
I want them.  Guide me, O Lord, in the
way of truth that I would live into the redemption You have given me through
Christ.  Lift my soul up by Your word
that I may live according to Your truth. 
Teach me to love as You love that I may be in You and You in me.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world for the sake of as many as would believe.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may grow in Your likeness.  I think Your Word says the same thing over and over, because I am doing the same thing over and over.  Release me from the traps of this age that I may do what is pleasing in the Father’s sight now and always.  Amen.

“I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I
hope.  My soul waits for the Lord more
than the watchmen for the morning; indeed, more than the watchmen for the
morning.”  (Psalm 130:5-6)

Where is your hope?  Do you hope in the things of this world?  Are you distracted with all of the offerings
around you?  When all is stripped away,
where is your hope?  People learn those
things that interest them.  Does the Lord
interest you?  Do you spend time in the
Lord’s Word?  Do you meditate upon His
ways?  Do you spend time in prayer with
Him.  Wait upon the Lord humbly and He
will lift you up.

Lord, help me to see the many places where I am distracted by the cares
and worries of this world.  Help me to
not be guided by them, but by You alone. 
Lift me up into Your countenance that I may learn from You by, and in
the provision You have given me, through Your Word.  Help me to fall in love with Your Word and
with You that I may watch for You more than anything else.

Lord Jesus, You are the Word made flesh.  You have come to lead the way for all those who will follow.  Guide me Lord Jesus in the way You know I need to go.  Help me to not be hindered by the cares of this world, but to walk with You as You lead.  Teach me to be watchful and to anticipate the ways in which You will lead.  Show me the way to follow You all of my days and in all of my ways.  Amen.

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“If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?  But there is forgiveness with You, that You
may be feared.”  (Psalm 130:3-4)

Our standing with the Lord is
not based upon behavior, for who could tell the Lord they have not sinned?  Our hope is because the Lord forgives us our
iniquities and leads us in the way of righteousness.  Come then into the Lord’s presence and let
Him lead You in all of His ways.  Be
guided by hope and not by the aggravations of this world.  The Lord is kind and gracious, abounding in
steadfast love.

Lord, help me to confess my iniquities and not hide behind a wall of
pretense that I am a good person.  Lead
me ever deeper into truth.  You have
given the words of eternal life and all hope is found in You alone.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I
would walk with You all of the days of my life. 
May I humbly come before You always in confession, trusting in Your
grace alone for Your absolution, which is my salvation.

Lord Jesus, You are the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.  You came that our forgiveness would be made complete.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of confession that I may grow by Your grace in honesty and willingness to serve as You lead.  You are the way of life and in You is all truth found.  May I grow by the discipline You give and learn to become like You in all of Your ways.  Amen.

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

“Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.  Lord, hear my voice!  Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my
supplications.”  (Psalm 130:1-2)

We all reach places where we
look around and in despair, cry out, “O Lord, how long?”  The Lord is always near.  The Lord knows what you are going to ask
before you ask it.  Open your ears, take
your eyes off of yourself and listen, for the Word of the Lord has been spoken.  You are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.  You are constantly in the presence of the
Lord.  He who knows You is here with you.

Lord, let me hear as You speak. 
Bring to remembrance all of Your promises and the words of comfort.  Guide me into the life to which You have
called me knowing that they first hated You, and so they will hate me.  Teach me to listen that I may hear as You
speak.  Guide me into the way of life
which You have demonstrated in the sight of every people.  Help me to live according to Your will.

Lord Jesus, without You I would
perish.  You have given the words for
eternal life.  You are that Word.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way of life that
I may now and forever grow into Your likeness. 
Help me to hear and obey that I may not stumble or fall.  You know the way I need to go to grow and do
what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. 
Help me, Lord Jesus, this day amidst all adversity.  Amen.

“May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward; let them be
like grass upon the housetops, which withers before it grows up; with which the
reaper does not fill his hand, or the binder of sheaves his bosom; nor do those
who pass by say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the
name of the Lord.”  (Psalm 129:5-8)

The world hates those who are
faithful.  The Lord teaches us to love
all, even those who hate us.  Do not
spend your time thinking of those who hate you, but dwell upon the goodness of
the Lord.  He will take care of all, even
those who hate.  Leave that to the
Lord.  Be one who blesses others as you
have been blessed.  Love, and do not hate
them. Seek the will of the Lord who redeems you and do good.

Lord, I do get caught up in the way of this world and its constant
hatred.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of
truth.  Guide me away from my feelings
and into the place of knowing that You, O Lord, are always good and that all
things are now and forever in Your hands. 
Show me how to live each day in Your presence, doing what is pleasing in
Your sight.

Lord Jesus, apart from You and the grace You give, it would be impossible.  Lead me this day, O Lord, to walk humbly with You as You lead.  Guide me away from those things which cause me to stumble that I may now and always abide with You and You with me.  May I be led by Your Spirit throughout this day, being the blessing You intend me to be.  Amen.

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THE PRAYERS, 

11^th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 16, Cycle C (August 25, 2019)

Let us pray for the Church, the world, and for one another.

A brief silence

Heavenly Father, thank you for showing us what you would have us do, even when it is hard. Give us strength and grace to worship you in the beauty of holiness, and to share your love, justice, and mercy to those who need it most. Thank you for establishing for us a kingdom that can never be shaken.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We humbly pray that you would discipline the Church you love. Set it in the narrow way of peace, holiness, and truth. Make it a trustworthy, open gate to your healing and purifying love, so that many may enter to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving for the salvation you have granted in Christ.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Touch the hearts of the people gathered here with your beauty and goodness. Make our words gracious and our deeds lovely. Make of us a kingdom of priests, holy in your sight; and a family of servants, faithfully doing your will.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Join the sufferings of your persecuted Church to those of Christ. Give it a gracious word of testimony, truth, and forgiveness, so that its tormentors may repent and be saved.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bring to fruition Isaiah’s vision that all nations shall serve and worship you. Give leaders the desire and the means to accomplish your will for peace, righteousness, and justice for all people – especially the poor and those devastated by human malice or natural disaster. Help all of us to be true friends and good neighbors to one another.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

The school year fast approaches, to the dread of students and delight of parents. Give them joy in learning and diligence in study. Help their teachers and aides to convey true love of their subject matter. Make them gentle disciplinarians, inspiring mentors, and worthy examples to their students.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Grant healing, hope and strength to everyone who is wounded in body, soul or mind. Especially we remember before you the needs of: {List}. In their suffering, assure them of your loving presence; and give them all they need to enter into your gates with thanksgiving and into your courts with praise.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Most holy and gracious Father, receive into your Kingdom our beloved dead. Keep us faithful and true, holy and steadfast, as we walk the narrow Way established by your dear Son. Give us healing, hope, and joy along that way; and help us to encourage and help one another. Bring us safely into that Kingdom which you have promised to all whom you redeem by the sufferings of Christ. And there let us see you face to face, and experience the unspeakable joy of abiding in your love forever.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Hear our prayers, gracious Father, offered through the power of the Spirit; and for the sake of your dear Son, grant us all that is in accordance with your merciful will, to your glory and for the good of your people. AMEN.