Heavenly Father,
You are the God who saves. You have reached across the barriers of our ignorance and have made yourself known to us. Thank you for this grace. You have rescued us from darkness and have delivered us into the glorious light of the Kingdom of your Son. Now we reside with you in the communion of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We Praise you. You are the Living God. Where else could we go for life and the words of life? Open our ears that we may hear your voice. Cause life to spring up in us. We long to know so much — we long to know you.
May your Spirit generate in us a greater curiosity about you. May we be drawn to see Jesus. Grant us the grace to grasp the immensity of His love for us.
We confess Lord — we are not like you. Sin keeps talking hold of us, the old nature resists your Spirit in us. We repent of:
our reluctance to be known.
our quickness to judge.
our desperate need for the world’s approval.
our greed, which is idolatry.
our silence which steals your glory.
our unforgiving hearts and
our sluggish love.
Create in us a clean heart Oh God. Restore to us the joy of your salvation. Renew our minds — even transform our minds — so that we may have power to live the way of the Gospel in our daily lives.
Lord while we have been looking inward we know many people bear the weight of great conflict from powers outside of them. Oh, that you would grant wisdom from heaven to the students in Hong Kong and to the people of Iran and Bolivia. Here in British Columbia we ask you to be present and to bring clarity of heart and mind to the negotiation tables for beneficial agreements to the people who serve our Province daily.
We are looking to you — so we pray as Jesus teaches us —
(Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.)
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.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever.
Amen.