Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Election

Adapted from Ephesians 1:3-18

All glorious God, we give you thanks:

in your Son, Jesus Christ,

you have given us every spiritual blessing

in the heavenly realms.

You chose us, before the world was made,

to be your holy people, without fault in your sight.

You adopted us as your children in Christ.

You have set us free by his blood;

you have forgiven our sins.

You have made known to us your secret purpose,

to bring heaven and earth into unity in Christ.

You have given us your Holy Spirit,

the seal and pledge of our inheritance.

All praise and glory be yours, O God,

for the richness of your grace,

for the splendor of your gifts,

for the wonder of your love.

The Worship Sourcebook

 O LORD GOD,

The first act of calling is by your command in your Word,

‘Come to me, return to me’;

The second is to let in light,

so that I see that I am called particularly,

and perceive the sweetness of the command as well as its truth,

in regard to your great love of the sinner,

by inviting him to come, though contemptible,

in regard to the end of the command,

which is fellowship with you,

in regard to your promise in the gospel,

which is all of grace.

Therefore, Lord,

I don’t need to worry if I am your elect, or loved,

for if I turn you will come to me;

Christ has promised me fellowship if I take him,

and the Spirit will pour himself out on me,

abolishing sin and punishment,

assuring me of the strength to persevere.

It is your pleasure to help all that pray for grace,

and come to you for it.

Taken from An Excerpt of “Christian Calling” in The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, ed. Arthur Bennett (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1975). Language modernized for corporate worship by Stuart Strachan Jr.