Morning Prayer: 

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentence

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Lord have mercy.

You will find the Lord your God, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Morning readings

Psalm 119:1-4 ESV:

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.

Nehemiah 8:2-6 ESV:

So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Matthew 22:37-38 ESV:

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment….”

Reflection: “With Understanding”

This month we will be reading slowly through Psalm 119, the longest psalm, which gives thanks for God’s laws which give understanding and bring life. We pray God will teach us to obey Him, to honour Him, and to praise Him with understanding.

In John Irving’s novel The Cider House Rules the rules are carefully posted up where everyone can see them, but it makes no difference because the people who have to keep them cannot read. The rules still apply, and so do the penalties for breaking them. God’s laws are in-built in our world, so lack of understanding is dangerous….

The word of God challenges us, “Do you seek Him with all your mind?” And we respond, Amen. Lord have mercy!

Prayer: Heavenly Father – as I embark on this new season to discover Your Word to me through the Scriptures – give me Your Word for light, and Your Spirit for sight… that I might love You with all my heart and soul and mind… and keep my eyes focused on Jesus, my Savior and my Lord. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Great Reward” – Shane and Shane

Canticle

Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

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.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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Peanut Gallery: The Morning Prayer readings are from the Daily Office of the Northumbrian Community as available online here… and in the book form, Celtic Daily Prayer available on Amazon.com.

The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.