GREETING (Psalm 119:171-172)
Our lips will pour forth praise, O God,
because you teach us your statutes.
Our tongues will sing of your promise,
for all your commandments are right.
HYMN 413 “A Charge to Keep I Have”
PSALM 119:33-40
PRAYER
(Consider some of the following concerns for prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and petition. Follow with your personal prayer list.)
Consumerism Lack of empathy
Over-spending Envy
Advertising that creates coveting Jealousy
Greed Lust
Self-Indulgence Fornication
Self-Centeredness Adultery
Other-Centeredness Stealing what we want from others
Centered on God Demanding God give us our wants
Desiring the possessions others have Adopting a servant’s heart
Desiring the position others have Being thankful for what we have
Desiring the power others have Being thankful for who we are
Desiring the recognition others have Living humbly
Desiring the love others have ____________________________
Sharing what we have ____________________________
Giving what we have ____________________________
THE LORD'S PRAYER
SCRIPTURE LESSON
(Choose a passage of scripture to read. It can be a chapter, a paragraph, or a particular story. Daily lectionaries are available online or in print that assign a lesson each day from the gospels, epistles, Old Testament and psalms on a three-year cycle. Or you can create a plan to read a book of the Bible, or the whole Bible. Then follow the steps below.)
Read a passage of scripture. Read it out loud, very slowly and carefully as if for the first time. Continue reading until a word, phrase or sentence captures your attention. Stop there to repeat the word, phrase or sentence over and over, listening to it deeply in your heart.
Reflect on why the passage got your attention. Consider the area of your life to which this may apply. Is God saying something to you in this passage? Take time to listen carefully to whatever God may be saying to you.
Respond to God in prayer (or with journaling, music, art or whatever you choose) about what you have heard. Ask questions. Open yourself to God’s will for you.
Rest in God’s company. Be still and quiet. Move beyond thinking, practicing interior silence. Let yourself be open to God’s presence. Savor this moment with God.
PRAYER
Ruler of heaven and earth, we resolve to be content
with whatever you provide us for meeting our needs.
We know the torrent of love flowing from you to us,
and we know we can trust that overflowing goodness.
If we receive only a little from you, we will be happy.
We will find our delight in thanking and praising you.
We will search out all the small, little-noticed things,
in which others find no joy and no reason for praise.
We will relish opportunities to share our blessings,
with the needy and those poor in things of true worth.
And should you decide to provide us with much,
we will sharply multiply our vigilance in thankfulness.
Just do not let us forget what it is like to have little,
lest we lose true empathy and compassion for others.
Remind us that gifts are things given, not earned.
Teach us to give with the same abandon you show us.
Save us from the double sins of jealousy and envy.
Never let us covet the gifts you have given to another.
Lead us far from the path where happiness is gain.
Build, instead, our contentment on obeying your will.
We trust you with yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Such faith is the thanksgiving and praise you desire.
In whatever state we find ourselves, rich or poor,
healthy or sick, mighty or weak, famous or unknown,
we will be perfectly satisfied in knowing our lives
rest in the good will and constant love of our Father. Amen.
SILENCE AND COMMITMENT
(Pause to reflect and listen. Work to push out of your mind any distracting or irrelevant thoughts. Concentrate your thoughts on the words of the hymns and choruses you have sung, the prayers you have spoken and the scriptures you have read. Be aware of what you are feeling. Listen for anything that God might be saying to you in this time you have spent together. As God responds to your prayer-time, seek guidance for how you can best respond to God’s will. Then commit to serving God’s will for you.)
HYMN 525 “We’ll Understand It Better By and By”
CLOSING PRAYER
Ten commands you give, O God,
not suggestions, not guidelines, but commands.
Let them command our lives today, God of blessing.
Let their benefits sanctify the lives,
that your holy Son’s loving sacrifice has saved,
and restored to usefulness to you and your kingdom. Amen.
Copyright 2020. Robert D. Ingram, 32746 Jourden Rd., Albany, Ohio 45710 (dr.bobingram@gmail.com). Used by permission.
