Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Complaint
Father – Your love is faithful through all generations
Jesus – Your grace is extends from eternity into eternity.
Spirit – Your presence knows no boundary or barrier.
For that we praise you, Triune Lord: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
As the Giver of all good gifts – there’s nothing we have or experience that does not come from your hand and without your consent … and all your gifts are good.
Yet, we’re not such good receivers of your gifts.
We complain when we don’t get what we want,
when we want it because we want it;
And when we do – we ask for more,
forgetting to say “thank you” and to live gratefully.
You give us more than we need – and we keep it to ourselves,
rather than sharing it with others
… or returning a portion to You in gratitude.
And that’s just the beginning of where we fall short.
So in the silence of these moments, hear the prayers we’re too ashamed to say aloud as we confess our sin to you. (Pause)
(Prayer of Adoration)
God, Almighty – holy, gracious, truthful and loving, we’re drawn by Your invitation to enjoy Your love, an invitation to feel Your touch and hear Your voice, to taste and see that You are good!
Thank You for new life to celebrate. Thank You for meaningful work & restful Sabbaths. Thank You for encouraging relationships and Your provision for our daily needs. Thank You for all our good gifts from Your hand.
(Prayer of Confession)
Yet, we’re not always so grateful. In the midst of plenty, we still want more and complain when we don’t get it. Forgive us. When You give us more than we need so we can bless those with less than they need, we hold it tight to ourselves. Forgive us.
We’ve lived our agendas this week and ignored Yours. We’ve been blind to opportunities to show Your love to others. We’ve been too busy to love You in simple ways – neglecting quiet moments for prayer or reading your love letter to us in Scripture. Forgive us. Forgive, too, that for which we’re too embarrassed to say aloud but now confess in the silence of our own hearts … . Amen.