LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL 

FOURTH WEDNESDAY 
Mark 6:13-29 

Sovereign God, give us courage to speak the truth to those who believe that they may live without limits, who display their wealth in ostentatious ways, and who use power in order to satisfy their own egos, often at great cost to others. 

Help us to remember that You are Sovereign. Help us remember that no political, religious, or corporate power has absolute authority over us, or full demand of our loyalty.  

Help us not to be deceived or overawed by displays of wealth and power. Enable us to trust You fully in every circumstance. Enable us to live and speak truth without timidity, but also without arrogance. May the spirit of the prophets energize us to resist every power that vaunts itself by dealing in death. Amen.

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

THIRD TUESDAY

Mark 6:1-13

Christ Jesus, when we come together for worship, we typically rejoice in your instruction. But sometimes we are confused, frightened, angered, or even overawed by your word for us. 

Sometimes we are full of questions particularly “How?” questions. “How did you do it?” “How can this be true?” Then, “Why should we believe this?” Some of our questions are true attempts at understanding, but some arise because of our resistance to You.

Many days, we are simply immune to your instruction. We act as though we know all there is to know about You. We act as though we have plumbed the Mystery. We act as though You are unable to act in life-giving ways.  Then we reject any instruction that falls outside of our severely limited understanding. We close our eyes, stop our ears, and harden our hearts.

Christ, do not let us amaze You by our lack of faith. Do not let our familiarity with You breed contempt for You. Set a fire in our hearts that blazes for You, receives You with gladness, and opens us to the new wonders that You desire to work among us.  

Then, enable us to act as faithful agents of your reign of forgiveness, healing and liberation. Amen.

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

THIRD MONDAY

Mark 5:21-43

Jesus, Emmanuel, we rejoice that You are able to act in life-giving ways when all resources have failed and where hope is nearly exhausted.

You are the source of hope that generates acts of trust, some timid, some bold, among those who are in desperate need. You speak a word that quells our fears. Then, somehow, in nearness and vulnerability, by a touch or a word, your power for new life is released. You astonish us and become a living sign that the reign of God is present among us. 

Free us to tell about the healing and liberation that You have worked among us. Help us to share our hope with those who are hopeless and know no place to turn. Let our sharing of good news cause many to reach for You. Amen.

Prayer for March 4-10, 2018

Sermon Text: Psalm 19

That our hearts may be continually tuned to yours

God of Glory, when are hearts are in tune with You, we see your presence everywhere in your creation. We hear your praise sung and echoed from earth to sky. We are awed, and delighted, and our own voices add to your praise.

We rejoice that your glory radiates throughout the creation that we can see, hear, taste, touch and smell. But we also rejoice to perceive your glory through the instruction that You have given to your people.

When are hearts are in tune with You, when we are practicing obedience with gladness, You enable us to see the wisdom of your commands. Through them You teach us that You are trustworthy. You refresh us, enlighten us, grant us wisdom, fill us with joy, and divert us from many snares. 

As you continue to tune our heart to yours, show us the sins to which we are now blind. Help us repent in humility. Transform us. Let all that we think and do honor You. Amen.

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

THIRD SUNDAY

John 5:24-29 (I added verse 24 to the daily reading)

Jesus, Son of God, we rejoice in your presence. We rejoice that the Spirit of God has enabled us to hear and believe your word that God sent You. We rejoice in the new life You have given us and the freedom You have given from fear of judgment.

Though death is near for some of us and far off for others, we anticipate, with hope, the day when the dead will be raised to life at the sound of your voice. We will receive that new gift with great joy.

Enable us to remain attentive to your voice and steadfast in faith. Help us to act with ever-deepening gratitude.

Do not let us be diverted by temptation into doing evil, but let our lives produce abundant good fruit for your glory. 

We make every dimension of our lives available for your renewing purpose. We trust You to judge justly on the day of your return. Amen.

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

THIRD SATURDAY

Mark 5:1-20

Christ, our Savior, we rejoice that your ministry was and is empowered by the Holy Spirit. And we rejoice that by that Spirit You are able to discern and deliver from impure spirits that oppress human lives by controlling thoughts, emotions, and actions, while churning everything into chaos.

Like the man among the tombs, some of our lives have been engulfed in such chaos. We had become dangerous and terrifying to ourselves and to others.

But You have acted without fear in the face of oppressive spirits.  You have acted with compassion toward those whose lives are spinning away from them, those who are divided, dissipated and tormented. You have brought release. You have transformed. You have brought order and new creation from our chaos. 

Such healing and release are too much for ordinary words. So, we sing praise. We shout, “Hallelujah.” And we tell others about your astonishing goodness to us in words that can never capture the full truth or express our full gratitude. Amen.

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

THIRD FRIDAY

Mark 4:35-41

Much too often, our faith is weak. When chaos confronts us, we are seldom able to manage more than a panicked cry for your intervention. We imagine that this moment’s crisis (like many before it) will bring our undoing, that we will be swamped, that no one will rescue, that we will never recover.

Though You are not at our beck and call, as though we controlled You, You, God of wonders, are able to speak a word that brings order and peace from chaos. Just as your Spirit hovered over the waters of chaos and brought creation to light, You are able to move, unperturbed, through the chaos we fear.

You are able to calm the chaos that threatens to engulf us and You are able to give us courage to face our crises with courage and trust. You are even able to calm and transform the chaos that we create, in and around ourselves, by our faithless choices that so often damage and destroy. You are able to transform us! 

In our chaotic moments, help us remember that You are near. Help us remember that your word undoes chaos. Deepen our faith! Let your awesome ability evoke our praise. Amen.