Morning Prayer, Saturday, 03 Oct 2020
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
O merciful Lord, grant to your faithful people pardon and peace,
that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve you with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is he who upholds my life.
(Psalm 54:4)
Preparation:
Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.
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The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original)
Psalm 54
1. Save me, O God, for your Name’s sake, *
and avenge me in your strength.
2 Hear my prayer, O God, *
and hearken to the words of my mouth.
3 For the arrogant have risen up against me, *
and tyrants, who do not have God before their eyes, seek after my life.
4 Behold, God is my helper; *
the Lord is he who upholds my life.
5 He shall repay the evil of my enemies. *
O destroy them in your faithfulness.
6 A freewill offering will I give you, *
and praise your Name, O LORD, because it is good.
7 For he has delivered me out of all my trouble, *
and my eye has seen the ruin of my enemies.
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“Psalms 54” (tune: Michael E. Kitchens
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New Living Translation (NLT)
Proverbs 03 (The proverbs of Solomon)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
33 The Lord curses the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the upright.
34 The Lord mocks the mockers
but is gracious to the humble.
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Consider:
Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is he who upholds my life.
(Psalm 54:4)
“Save me, O God.” As David was at this time placed beyond the reach of human assistance, he must be understood as praying to be saved by the name and the power of God, in an emphatic sense, or by these in contradistinction to the usual means of deliverance. Though all help must ultimately come from God, there are ordinary methods by which he generally extends it. When these fail, and every earthly stay is removed, he must then take the work into his own hands. It was such a situation that David here fled to the saints’ last asylum, and sought to be saved by a miracle of divine power.
—John Calvin.
How is it with your soul? (John Wesley)
Q: What things are you engaged in that bring your soul closer God?
Q: What things are you doing that distance you from God?
Q: What things are doing in your life that refresh and rekindle your soul?
Q: What things are you engaged in that drain the life out of your soul?
Q: Is there something that troubles you that only “a miracle of divine power” can make right?
Prayer
I speak the Name of Jesus!
+ Over the church – fill it with your truth and peace
I speak the Name of Jesus!
+ Over our nation – save us from evil and defend our freedoms
I speak the Name of Jesus!
+ Over our government – remind them to serve us by obeying you
I speak the Name of Jesus!
+ Over our families – watch over them and protect them
I speak the Name of Jesus!
+ Over all our fears – overcome them with your loving-kindness
I speak the Name of Jesus!
+ Over every human life – rekindle your image within them
I speak the Name of Jesus!
+ Over all the distressed – comfort and strengthen them
I speak the Name of Jesus!
+ Over all the unemployed – reveal suitable work for them
I speak the Name of Jesus!
+ Over all the infirmed – heal them and restore health of body, mind, and spirit
I speak the Name of Jesus!
+ Over the unrepentant – forgive them and bring them home
O God, the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the wills that serve you: Help us so to know you that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“I Speak Jesus” – Here Be Lions
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Blessing:
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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