Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on God’s Sovereignty
Prayer of Adoration, based on Isaiah 6
Transcendent Lord,
in the midst of ordinary days
draw us to your wonder and majesty,
to fall on our knees and cry, “Glory!”
May we tremble, knowing how deeply you know us and love us
The fierceness of a tsunami does not compare to your passion for us
and for the salvation of all things.
Holy! Holy! Holy!
Blessed be your name forever!
Amen!
Prayer of Adoration, based on Isaiah 6 © 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com
Receive our Rejoicing, an Opening Prayer for Christ the King Sunday
Lord God, King of all Creation
Ruler of planets and peoples
Receive our rejoicing
For your abiding presence and redemptive return
Receive our shouts of gladness
For your justice, your fairness, your truth victorious
Strengthen and inspire
So we may persevere in proclaiming and praise
We labor and yearn for your glorious day
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
Amen
Receive Our Rejoicing © 2019 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com
Good and Gracious Lord,
You hold us in the palm of Your strong hand,
working all things for our good and to Your glory.
There is no place we can go
that escapes your notice
and is hidden from your loving attention.
We are amazed by your power
and in awe of Your grace:
Your take what’s inadvertently or intentionally evil
and bend it to Your will and ways.
(Prayer of Confession)
We cover our sin.
Thinking we can hide from You.
we run, afraid you’ll find us out;
afraid that if you – or others – really knew us
no-one would love us.
We try to run our own lives,
and the lives of others,
attempting to be our own gods.
We love you too little,
we love others hardly at all,
and we love ourselves too much.
Hear our silent confession
and our whispers as we name our sin before You;
and, we pray, forgive us!
(Silence … 30-45 seconds)
(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)
Lord—you’re sufficient in everything.
You can create without us; save without our assistance;
bring good out of evil, hope from despair and restore what
we mess up. You’re sovereign and we’re not.
Yet, and this boggles my mind –
You invite us to join with You as partners in Your work! You first make us joint heirs with Jesus
and then co-laborers in Your kingdom.
Imagine that – we’re privileged to make a difference
in Your world, in your church
and in the lives of people you love so much
you gave your Son for them.
It can’t get much better than that! …
(Prayer of Confession)
But, Father – we confess we’re not satisfied.
You invite us to serve you and to serve with you –
and we want to be served by you and others.
You honor us as your children – calling us by name in love;
and we use your name flippantly and loosely.
You empower us to be your followers –
but we use power for ourselves, pushing You aside.
You give us your wisdom in Scripture and by Your Spirit –
and we think we know better
how to run our lives and your world.
Forgive us! Forgive our foolish arrogance and pride.
Forgive us for taking your gifts intended for others
and using them for ourselves.
Forgive us for forgetting who we are
and whose we are as Christian people.
Forgive the selfishness of our hearts
and the selfishness of our actions.
Forgive it all, and more – and make us more like Jesus
in our thinking, our feeling, our speaking and in our acting.
Please, Lord Jesus; in whose name we pray—AMEN.
(Assurance of Pardon)
As the apostle announced – The mystery of godliness of great: The Son of God appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world and taken up into glory—all for our salvation. For this is a trustworthy saying worthy of full acceptance: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, like you & me. Dear Friends – because that’s true: by His grace active through your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior, I declare w/ confidence you’re forgiven and free of all your sins. Alleluia! Amen.
(Prayer of Adoration)
Gracious God – our Father:
Sufficient and sovereign, yet, compassionate and kind;
You tell us the truth while the world lies to us;
You give us light and hope,
while all around us cast darkness and despair.
When we mess up our lives – you give us a new one.
When we lose our way – You find us and guide us home.
When we are cast out – You call us by name and take us in.
It’s no wonder we praise You.
It’s no wonder we love You.
(Prayer of Confession)
Yet sometimes we seek to steal Your glory,
to love ourselves and ignore You.
Forgive us – and in the quiet hear our heart’s confession
Of how we hurt others and dishonor You. (silence … )