Arise with Praise, Penitence and Prayer

As we start our week of prayer, today we are going to focus on who God is and our relationship with Him. Our biblical prayer for today is the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught us to pray and it reminds us that we can draw near to God our Father with reverence and confidence knowing that He is able to help. As you read it consider all the things that this prayer teaches us about who God is and our relationship to Him.

Reading: The Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:9-13

“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”

Responsive Praise

Reflective Prayer

In response to this may you be encouraged to take some time in prayer with your heavenly Father. If you find it helpful you may wish to use the words of a Puritan prayer found below:

O God of Grace,
You have imputed my sin to my substitute,
and have imputed His righteousness to my soul,
clothing me with a bridegroom’s robe,
decking me with jewels of holiness.

But in my Christian walk I am still in rags;
my best prayers are stained with sin;
my penitential tears are so much impurity;
my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin;
my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.

I need to repent of my repentance;
I need my tears to be washed;
I have no robe to bring to cover my sins,
no loom to weave my own righteousness;
I am always standing clothed in filthy garments,
and by grace am always receiving change of raiment,
for You always justify the ungodly;

I am always going into the far country,
and always returning home as a prodigal,
always saying, “Father, forgive me,”
and You are always bringing forth the best robe.

Every morning let me wear it,
every evening return in it,
go out to the day’s work in it,
be married in it,
be wound in death in it,
stand before the great white throne in it,
enter heaven in it shining as the sun.

Grant me never to lose sight of the exceeding sinfulness of sin,
the exceeding righteousness of salvation,
the exceeding glory of Christ,
the exceeding beauty of holiness,
the exceeding wonder of grace.

Amen