Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on God’s Power
(Prayer of Adoration)
Lord of yesterday, today and tomorrow:
You alone rule the universe;
setting times and seasons according to Your will.
While nations and king come and go,
You, only, are King of kings and Lord of lords;
immortal and all-knowing,
never lacking power and wisdom.
You are strong; and you are good!
Therefore, we joyously and reverently call you God and King.
(Prayer of Confession)
Yet, in spite of all we know of You –
we are stubborn and rebellious still.
We think ourselves wise – disregarding Your truth.
We think ourselves strong – using violence to force our will.
We think ourselves right –writing-off others and refusing to
learn from them.
We think ourselves good – ignoring our corruption and evil;
pointing fingers and wagging tongues at others.
Forgive our arrogance minds, self-centeredness hearts
and ungracious spirits.
Take away our hearts of stone;
replace them with hearts of flesh,
hearts that best after Your own heart.
In silent moments, hear us confess what we’re too ashamed to name aloud – forgive and free us, Lord: (Silence)
(Prayer of Adoration)
We praise you, Lord for you are
all-wise and all-powerful,
faithful, loving and gracious,
holy, just, merciful, constant and pure,
omnipresent, intimate and immortal.
You are bigger than the known universe,
yet you know us each by name
and as close as our very breath.
You know all about us and still love us.
That’s why we praise you – that’s why we serve you.
(Prayer of Confession)
Yet – if we drop our masks and get real,
we admit we don’t praise you as you deserve,
nor do we serve you faithfully.
Forgive us – and hear our prayer of confession,
Amen.