Opening Prayer Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts -Psalm 139:23 (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them -Isaiah 42:5-9 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin Lord wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. -Psalm 51:7-8, 9-10 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? -Luke 9:22-25 (Think deeply on these life-giving words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. -Psalm 105:4 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer Open, O doors and bolts of my heart, that Christ the King of Glory may enter! Enter, O my Light, and enlighten my darkness; enter, O my Life, and resurrect my deadness; enter, O my Physician, and heal my wounds; enter, O Divine Fire, and burn up the thorns of my sins; ignite my inward parts and my heart with the flame of thy love; enter, O my King, and destroy in me the kingdom of sin; sit on the throne of my heart and alone reign in me, O thou, my King and Lord -Dimitry of Rostov |