The Pastor’s Corner

NOTE: Several months ago, I was writing the daily prayer using the Westminster Shorter Catechism. I got away from that practice. Today, I am renewing my effort to do so.

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 11:36; Ps. 73:25-28.

Prayer: Our God in heaven, you who are the alone creator and sustainer of heaven and earth and the one who has made man in your image, we bless your name today. We know that as your creatures, we have been made to glorify you in all we do. Your word tells us whether we are eating, drinking, working, resting, reading, talking -- whatever it is, that our actions and attitudes should honor you and your holy Word. We confess that we do not always have this central truth firmly established in our minds. We know that if we did, we would sin less against you. Forgive us for failing to make this a priority in our daily living. Please help us, by your Spirit, to honor you with all of our being in thought, word, and deed. We pray these things n the name of the Savior, our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer: Our God in heaven, we confess and acknowledge that nothing happens in your creation that you have not ordered and designed for our good. All that happens, the good or evil, suffering or calamity, victory or loss, is designed for the good of your church. Though we say these words, we also confess that we are often bewildered at your labors, and we sometimes wrestle with trusting you. These emotions are born out of a lack of true faith and total confidence in your divine providence. Though we know the theology, we find it difficult at times to practice it as we should. Forgive us for our lack of faith and trust in you. We know that your Word tells us that you are our Father, and you stand able and ready to help us. Please grant to us an unwavering faith and an abiding trust in what you are doing. Cement in our minds the promises you have offered your people -- that you will never leave us or forsake us, and you will bring us safely to our heavenly rest. We pray these things in the name of Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer: Grant, Almighty God, that since thou hast once stretched forth thy hand to consecrate us a people to thyself, -- O grant, that thy paternal favor may perpetually shine on us, and that we may, on the other hand, strive always to glorify thy name, so that having once embraced us thou mayest continue thy goodness, until we shall at length enjoy the fullness of all blessings in thy celestial kingdom, which has been obtained for us by the blood of thine only-begotten Son. Amen
-- John Calvin

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Prayer: Our Father, we look out across this world that you have made, and we take note of the effects of sin and the misery that comes from living in a fallen world. We mourn the mess wicked and depraved men have made, and we sometimes wonder why the heart of man is so desperately wicked. Because of sin, man rebels against you and all that you command. In their arrogance, they profess to be wise and, yet, they are fools because they refuse to bow the knee to the only true God of heaven and earth. We know that man will rebel, and we know that the only solution is the gospel of your Son. Therefore, we plead with you to work in a mighty way in our land. We pray for true revival that comes when your people humble themselves and pray. We ask that you would cause your church to seek first your kingdom and righteousness and point men to the only hope that they have -- the Lord Jesus. We pray for our nation, her leaders. We pray for our loved ones who are facing a tragic end. Please open our leaders' eyes and the eyes of our friends and family that they might behold you in all of your beauty and glory. We pray these things in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

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Prayer: Our great God in heaven, you who are full of loving-kindness and compassion, we thank you for your church and the fellowship of the saints that we enjoy as we pilgrim through this world. In your wisdom and grace, you have provided us brothers and sisters, purchased by your Son and our Savior. We are grateful that we can lean upon our fellow family members and count on their acts of kindness and grace. We are thankful that we can reach out to them and ask for prayer and help whenever we need it. We know that we do not always behave like a family, and we confess that we sometimes act selfishly. Yet, we bless you for granting to us fellow pilgrims as we all labor together to reach our heavenly rest. Thank you for forgiving us. Help us to love one another with brotherly love as Christ loved us as our elder brother. We pray this in the game of the Savior. Amen.

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Prayer: Our God in heaven: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we praise your name today because you have been patient and kind to your people. Your Word tells us of the love that you have for your people and how you demonstrated that love by being pleased to crush your Son for those you choose to redeem. We thank you for the love of Christ. We are thankful that his love is patient and kind, that it is not boastful or arrogant. We thank you that his love is not rude and that he ministered to others insisting on your glory and honor. We thank you that his love does not keep a record of wrong but is quick to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We pray that you would increase our love for you and others. Please help us to love as the Lord Jesus loves. We pray these things for the sake of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Prayer: Our God, we were blessed to hear your Word preached on the Lord's Day, and we thank you for this ordinary and primary means of grace. We thank you that you have given us this means to help us and strengthen us and give us direction on our pilgrimage to our heavenly rest. We do not want to be like the church of old that heard your prophets and refused to respond in faith and repentance. We do not want to be like those who came out of Egypt who saw your mighty power and heard your voice and enjoyed the benefits of your presence and yet rebelled, failing to trust you. WE ask that you would make us doers of the Word and not mere hearers of it. We ask that you would bring great fruit from your Word proclaimed that it would not return to you void but will accomplish the purpose you have for it. Please grant us the grace we need, Lord. We pray all of these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Prayer: Our God in heaven, we praise your name today because you have called us apart from the world and placed your name upon us. We are humbled that you have redeemed us and called us your treasured possession. Since we belong to you, we are called to live our lives as living sacrifices before you. It is reasonable for us to offer our whole lives to you sincerely and promptly. We are your servants, and we are listening to your Word, knowing that it will conform us more and more to the image of your Son. We confess our failure and weakness -- our sin before you. We know that we do not always live in pursuit of holiness and righteousness as you have commanded. We are ashamed at how easy we stray from your commands. We pray that you would help us, by your Spirit, to do all you have told us. We pray this in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer: Our glorious God and majestic king, you have made us to worship you. From the very beginning, when you created our first parents and throughout all ages, you have called your people to adore and commune with you. After the fall, you condescended with man, drawing men to your presence as a holy obligation to worship you. As we prepare for the lord's Day and the day of worship, we ask that you would be gracious to us by impressing on our hearts and minds the importance and vitality of corporate worship. We ask that you would cause us to see the great importance of gathering with your people, singing your praises, praying, and hearing from you through the reading, but especially the preaching of your Word. We confess that we often see this critical time as another thing we do each week. Forgive us for not seeing the beauty of corporate worship. Today, please prepare us for what we will do as your people on the day you have established as a small picture of that great day when we will worship you in holy perfection. We pray these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Prayer: Our Father, we lament our fallen condition and grieve at the state of our world. We look around, and we see so many suffering from illness and chronic pain. We witness a virus circling the globe. We see the effects of sin in relationships, in families, and our leaders. We take note of the arrogance of men and their boasting of their own greatness. As your people, we sometimes grow tired of it, and we wonder why those made in your image so loudly rebel against you and then suffer the due consequences of their errors. We plead with you, our God, to advance your kingdom and your glory. WE know that you delight in the salvation of sinners, and we know that you are pleased to forgive. Thus, we ask that you would bring the gospel to bear in our land. We pray for those who suffer. We pray for our families. We pray that you would soon come again to free your people from the misery of this life, bringing us safely across the Jordan to our promised rest. We pray these things in the name of the Savior who we long to see. Amen.

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Prayer: Almighty God, we praise you today because you have demonstrated your faithfulness which is new every morning. Like the people of old who you cared for as they journeyed from their place of bondage to their place of rest you also care fo us by providing for us all that we need. Not only do you give us what we need, you often bless us with the good things of this life beyond what we need. WE thank you for your kind provision proving that you do not treat us as our sins deserve. We confess that we are not always content with your provisions, but, instead, complain about circumstances of our life. We ask that you would forgive us. Please help us to rest in you and, when restless, to cast our cares on you. Grant us your Spirit and help us, we pray in the name of Christ. Amen.

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Prayer: Our Father in heaven, you who are holy and the only true God of heaven and earth, we thank you that we can come to you today and pray and plead with you for those things we need. We are grateful that you are not like the dead idols of this world. You see, hear, and act according to your perfect will and according to your own counsel for the glory of your name and the good of your people. We confess that the affairs of this life sometimes burden us. We look around and see the brevity of our days. We know that our lives are like smoke. All of our days pass like a vapor. We are here today, and we will be gone tomorrow. We confess that we are sometimes burdened by the actions of the wicked against the godly. We confess that we often forget that you are on the throne and that you will bring us safely to our heavenly rest. Please help us, Lord, to remember that you are for us and that you will never leave us or forsake us. We plead with you to help your church to walk with you faithfully and that you would make her ready for her husband. We pray these things in the name of the Savior, the Lord Jesus. Amen.

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