Advent Prayer: 2nd Thursday 10 Dec 2020 – Psalm 126; Habakkuk 2:1-5; Philippians 3:7-11 ~ waiting & living by faith

Advent Prayer: 2nd Thursday 10 Dec 2020

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

Opening:

With tender comfort and transforming power you come into our midst, O God of mercy and might. Make ready a way in the wilderness, clear a straight path in our hearts, and form us into a repentant people, that the advent of your Son may find us watchful and eager for the glory he reveals. We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near: your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.

“I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish,
in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him,
not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,

but that which comes through faith in Christ,
the righteousness from God that depends on faith….”

(Philippians 3:8-9)

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Psalm 126– Restore Our Fortunes, O Lord

Shir Ha Ma’alot – Song of Ascents (Ps 126)

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Old Testament Reading: Habakkuk 2:1-5 (ESV)

2 I will take my stand at my watchpost
and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me,
and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

The Righteous Shall Live by His Faith

2 And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.
3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.

4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.

5 “Moreover, wine is a traitor,
an arrogant man who is never at rest.
His greed is as wide as Sheol;
like death he has never enough.
He gathers for himself all nations
and collects as his own all peoples.”

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The Just Shall Live By Faith – Majesty Music

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New Testament Reading: Philippians 3:7-11 (ESV)

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

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“We Wait” – Sara Groves

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Prayer:

+ Sovereign God, you have told us to wait in readiness for the return of your Son, King Jesus: Grant that the cry, “The King is coming!” may resound continually in our hearts, so that we are never unprepared to meet him, or forgetful of the souls for whom he died, for whom we watch and pray. And save us, O Lord. Amen.

+ Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that all, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

+ 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.

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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.

Praying the Psalms: Thu, 09 Aug – Psalm 35 ~ Fight for me, O Lord.

Praying the Psalms

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

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning Reading: Psalm 35 (NLT)

O Lord, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me. Put on your armor, and take up your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid. Lift up your spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Let me hear you say,

“I will give you victory!”

Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me; turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me. Blow them away like chaff in the wind—a wind sent by the angel of the Lord. Make their path dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me. I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me. So let sudden ruin come upon them!

  • Let them be caught in the trap they set for me!
  • Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.

Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because he rescues me. With every bone in my body I will praise him:

“Lord, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?”

Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about. They repay me evil for good. I am sick with despair. Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered. I was sad, as though they were my friends or family, as if I were grieving for my own mother. But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don’t even know; they slander me constantly. They mock me and call me names; they snarl at me.

How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing? Rescue me from their fierce attacks. Protect my life from these lions! Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people.

  • Don’t let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat.
  • Don’t let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow.

They don’t talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business. They shout,

“Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we saw him do it!”

O Lord, you know all about this.

  • Do not stay silent.
  • Do not abandon me now, O Lord.

Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord. Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for you give justice. Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles. Don’t let them say,

“Look, we got what we wanted! Now we will eat him alive!”

May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced. May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor. But give great joy to those who came to my defense. Let them continually say,

“Great is the Lord, who delights in blessing his servant with peace!”

Then I will proclaim your justice, and I will praise you all day long.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord of heaven’s armies: hear the cries of your beleaguered people and fight for them. In your mercy –

+ Right the wrongs committed against us…
+ Expose and put to shame the evil-doers…
+ Listen to your people’s frustration…
+ Exceed all our expectations in your response…
+ Vindicate us according to your perfect will…
+ Move in righteousness and justice against our enemies…

O Lord our God: may your Kingdom come and your will be done, through Jesus Christ, your Son our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Contend” (Psalm 35) – Sons of Korah


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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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!