Heavenly Father,

You are the one true God. You created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. You are almighty, all-knowing, all-seeing. You are King of kings and Lord of lords. Who is man that You should be mindful of him? Yet, You desire to know us, forgive us, and provide for us. You hear us when we pray and You answer. I thank and praise You that You would hear me, despite my sin.

You are a God of mercy. Therefore, I confess that I am a sinner in need of forgiveness. My heart is ever-wandering and deeds are selfish and prideful.

(take a moment to reflect on the past day and confess your sins.)

I am sorry for my sins and pray for Your great mercy. For the sake of Jesus Christ, please forgive me of all my sins.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.

Amen

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Jesus,

You could have come to kings and queens. You could have surrounded Yourself with a huge entourage with more people than could be counted. Yet, You chose 12 ordinary people. For three years You taught them, trained them, and cared for them. You made them a part of Your ministry on earth.

Give me a heart that desires to be with You, that heeds the call, “Come, follow me.” Help me to grow to know You and Your ways. May Your Spirit shine in my life that those around me would see You through my love and service towards others.

I pray for the Growth Group ministry at Faith Lutheran Church. May we hunger to gather together to study Your Word and pray together. May we long to know You more deeply and know each other with authentic love.

As we begin to launch the Growth Group ministry, I pray that the Growth Groups would be a source of great friendships that last for a lifetime. I ask that through the Growth Groups all those who come to Faith would grow in their knowledge and understanding of You and that they would learn to walk in Your ways and share Your love with others.

I pray that everyone who comes to Faith would see the great benefits of being a part of a Growth Group and desire to be an active part of a Growth Group.

Please bless the Growth Groups and all those who participate in them.

Amen.

The Psalms:

The Psalms have long been considered the prayer book of the Bible and have been used as prayers by countless Christians over the centuries. So, we join them in this practice and pray a Psalm.

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

(Take a few minutes to add your personal prayers, now.)

Conclude your time of prayer with either Luther’s morning or evening prayer, depending on what time of day it is.

Luther’s Morning Prayer:

I thank you, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Luther’s Evening Prayer:

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray You to forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt