Tag: Jesus Christ

Morning Prayer: 12 February – Matthew 9:14-15 ~ then they will fast

Friday after Ash Wednesday

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

Opening Sentence

Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. (Amos 5:15)

Morning Reading: Matthew 9:14-15 (NLT)

prayer-and-fasting

One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?”

Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Morning Prayer

Christ my Savior, who redeemed me by your death and resurrection, have mercy on me.

+ You went up to Jerusalem to endure the passion and enter into glory – lead me into the paschal feast of eternal life.
+ Your heart was pierced with a lance – heal the wounds of my human weakness.
+ You made your cross the tree of life – share your victory with me.
+ You gave salvation to the repentant thief – pardon all my sins.

Merciful God, give me the grace to continue the chosen fast I have begun; so that the Lenten observance I have taken upon myself may be accomplished in sincerity of heart. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

“Grace” – Laura Story

Closing Sentences

Come back, says the Lord, and I will frown on you no more, since I am merciful and I shall not keep my resentment for ever. Come back, disloyal children, says the Lord. (Jeremiah 3:12,14)

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

Morning Prayer: 11 February – Luke 9:22-25 ~ turn from your selfish ways

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

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

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: Luke 9:22-25 (NLT)

cross with blood

“The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

Morning Prayer

Praise to you, Lord God: your loving kindness is revealed in Jesus Christ. Remember, Lord, that I am your child.

+ Lead me more deeply into life with Christ – that I may freely give up my life for his sake.
+ Turn me away from my selfish inclinations – that I may seek the furtherance of his Kingdom before all else.
+ Forgive the harm that I have done – that I may follow him in the path of justice and truth.
+ Fill me with your loving-kindness – that I may face rejection and even suffering without fear.

Lord, be the beginning and end of everything I do and say. Prompt my actions with your grace, and complete them with your all-powerful help. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

“If My People Called By My Name” – Garry Mulgrew

Closing Sentence

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)

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

Ash Wednesday: 10 February – Joel 2:12-13; Deuteronomy 7:6-9 ~ tear your hearts

Ash Wednesday

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

Opening Sentence

“Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” (Joel 2:12-13)

ash-wednesday

Morning Reading: Deuteronomy 7:6-9 (NLT)

You are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.

The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.

Morning Prayer

Thank you, Lord God, for this Lenten season of grace. Cleanse my heart and strengthen me in love through the power of your Holy Spirit at work in me.

+ Father God, your word is life – may my life be nourished and sustained by every word you speak.
+ Christ Jesus, you have born my sin and shown me the way of love – teach me to follow you in the great and small events of my life.
+ Holy Spirit, you live in me even now – give me a spirit of self-denial and move me to help those around me in their need.

Walk with me, Lord God, during this Lenten season as I confront the passions and desires of my sinful nature and nail them, once again, to the Cross of Christ. Holy Spirit, arm me for this season of spiritual warfare that I may follow your leading in every part of my life. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

“Walk with Me” – Jesus Culture

Blessing

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

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

Morning Prayer: 09 February – Romans 13:11-13 ~ remove your dark deeds

Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Opening Sentence

My helper is my God; I will place my trust in him. He is my refuge; he sets me free.

Morning Reading: Romans 13:11-13 (NLT)

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

dirty laundry

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.

Morning Prayer

Christians are called to share the life of God. Praise to you, Lord Jesus, the high priest of our faith. You are our Savior and our God.

+ Almighty King, you have baptized us, and made us a royal priesthood – may we offer you a constant sacrifice of praise.
+ Holy Spirit, you live in us and through us – may we be shining examples of decent living for all to see.
+ Everlasting Wisdom, work in us today – may our decisions reflect sound judgement and our actions further your Kingdom purposes.
+ Gentle Shepherd, help us to be considerate and kind – grant that we may bring joy, not pain, to those we meet.

Look with favor on us, Lord, and in your saving love let your light penetrate the hidden places of our hearts. May no sordid desires darken our minds, renewed and enlightened as we are by your heavenly grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

“Salvation Song” – Stuart Townend

Blessing

(May) the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding… guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

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

Morning Prayer: 08 February – 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 ~ on “workfare”

Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

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

Opening Sentence

O God of truth, prepare my mind to hear and heed your holy word.

Morning Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 (NLT)

Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

on work

Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

Morning Prayer

As the new day begins, praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is the fullness of grace and the Spirit of God. Lord, give me your Spirit.

+ I praise you, Lord, and thank you for all your blessings….
+ Give me peace of mind and generosity of heart….
+ Grant me health and strength to do your will….
+ May your love be with me throughout the day….
+ Guide me in my work and in my rest….
+ Be with all those who have asked me for prayer, and grant them all their needs….

Lord, be the beginning and end of all that I do and say. Prompt my actions with your grace, and complete them with your all-powerful help. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

“Christ Be In My Waking” – Stuart Townend

Blessing

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)

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