GREETING (Psalm 119:171-172)
My lips will pour forth praise, O God,
because you teach me your statutes.
My tongue will sing of your promise,
for all your commandments are right.
HYMN 103 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”
PSALM 135
PRAYER
(Consider some of the following concerns for prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and petition. Follow with your personal prayer list.)
Idolizing status Idolizing sex
Idolizing fame Idolizing alcohol
Idolizing possessions Idolizing drugs
Idolizing wealth Idolizing success
Idolizing security Idolizing winning
Idolizing control Idolizing achievement
Idolizing power Idolizing recognition
Idolizing independence Idolizing good health
Idolizing “the new thing” and latest fads Idolizing pleasure
Idolizing intellect Recognizing God as God
Idolizing beauty and good looks Worshiping only God
Idolizing celebrities and stars ____________________________
Idolizing strength ____________________________
Idolizing race or ethnicity ____________________________
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
Imagination and superstition promote many false gods,
but birthed in our wrong desires, life exposes their untruths.
Hammered by truth, these idolatries lie in ruined fragments.
But you, O God, when confronted by the truths of life,
you grow greater, wiser, more trustworthy, more caring,
more dependable, more desirable, more worthy of worship.
You are not exposed by hardships in life, but revealed.
You are not hammered and broken. You are the hammer.
Yet, in Christ you die, sacrificing yourself for your creation.
We think the idols we create make demands like we do.
We project our expectations and desires on to these idols.
Because we want things given to us, we think our gods do too.
We do not understand a God who makes commands,
not to limit us, not to keep or take things away from us;
but to guide us into a way of living that produces blessing.
The one, true, living God does not take, but gives.
Even crucifixion, a sure seal marking our eternal guilt,
you reverse with a glorious resurrection to everlasting life!
Unlike idols, you give with living and perfect love.
Unlike anything in creation, your perfection is forever,
and your image – we praise you, God – is imprinted on us.
It is not us projecting flawed, immoral and selfish
characteristics onto flawed, immoral and selfish idols;
but a real God creating in us a sense of holiness and love.
There is a spark of your likeness in each one of us,
and, under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, it glows brighter.
Let your breath fan these flames of your likeness in all of us.
A family resemblance to you would be wonderful,
for there are none as desirable, kind and good as you.
A true, living, giving, loving God are you, Father of truth. 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 151 “God Created Heaven and Earth”
CLOSING PRAYER
Ten commands you give, O God,
not suggestions, not guidelines, but commands.
Let them command my life today, God of blessing.
Let their benefits sanctify the life,
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.
