O my God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, You alone are almighty, but I am weak and I daily feel my weakness, frailty, sinfulness, and ignorance. You alone are wise, but I know I am foolish. You alone are all-knowing, but I am ignorant and stupid of so many things! You alone are holy and glorious, but I am sinful and defiled and I daily feel the pull of sin in my heart (Rom. 7). You alone are the Creator of the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that in them is, but I am simply dust and ashes. My life is like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow. Therefore, my Lord and my God, look upon me in Your mercy, and fill me with your Spirit and Word. Teach me, O Father, to walk in wisdom’s way, to stay upon the highway of holiness, and to be clothed with humility as my Lord and Savior Jesus! Grant me a greater desire for Your Word, Your righteousness, and Your holiness. Keep me back presumptuous sins; keep me from sinning against You and my fellow man! As David wrote, “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression” (Psalm 19:13).
Strengthen me for today’s work and service, and make me walk faithfully and obediently for Your glory. Continually bring my mind captive to the obedience of Christ. Bless our corporate worship this morning as we remember the resurrection of Christ and the blessings bestowed upon all believers because of these blessed words of Scripture, “He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:6). Strengthen my faith in Christ, cause me to love You, Your Word, Your Son, Your Spirit, Your Church, and all things true, holy, righteous, good, and just in a greater measure, and help me to love and esteem others as better than myself. Help me, O my God, to take the lowest place of service towards those who cross my path. Let me be my brother and neighbor’s and foot-washer! Thank You, Lord Jesus, for living and dying in my place that I might be granted everlasting life! Thank You, dear Father, for sending Your Son into this world “To make a wretch His treasure.” As the song writer wrote, “How deep the Father’s love for us, How vast beyond all measure, That He should give His only Son, To make a wretch His treasure.”
Help me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ, my neighbors, and even those who hate me. Keep back my tongue from gossip, backbiting, and slandering others. Cause me to mind my own business and not to meddle in things that do not concern me. Teach me wisdom, boldness, and humility. Teach me godly love. Father, I love You, but teach me and cause me to love you more deeply, more comprehensively. Teach me to love others more deeply. Forgive me for so often loving in a shallow, superficial manner! Keep me dependent upon You in all things, at all moments, and for all time! O Father, I am sinful, needy, foolish, broken, and weak, and I need You every moment. Strengthen me to resist sin and the temptations of the flesh. Keep me from sinning against you and my neighbor. I confess what the hymn writer wrote, “I need Thee ev’ry hour, Most gracious Lord; No tender voice like Thine, Can peace afford. I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; Ev’ry hour I need Thee; Oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.”
Hear my feeble prayer for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ. O Holy Spirit, teach me by Your Word and indwelling power to pray effectively for Your glory and the good of Christ’s Church. As it is written, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26). Teach me to pray more consistently and constantly in accordance with Your Word. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). Use me up for Your glory. Fill me up with Your power and presence for Your service!
In Christ’s holy name I pray!
Amen!
