The Pastor’s Corner

Prayer: Our God in heaven, we thank you that you have given us your Word. Left to ourselves, we would not know what you require that we may live to glorify you. We are thankful that you have revealed yourself in creation, but that alone would not be enough for us to know what you require. Though we see your majesty displayed in the sun, moon, stars, seasons, and all that you have made, we would not understand them without that special revelation you have offered to us in the Bible. Through it, we hear from you, and we are told what we must believe to be reconciled with you. In your Word, we are told what is required of those made in your image. Please help us, therefore, to ponder deeply those things that are found in your Word and grant to us a willing heart and mind to obey you in all that you have commanded us. We pray these things in the name of the Savior, our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer: Our God in heaven, in days of old you spoke by your own voice, through signs, oracles, and through your prophets. In these days you have spoken through your Son and now, through your infallible Word by men called by your Spirit to proclaim Your will and mind to your people. As we gather today to hear from you, we pray that you would make willing servants listening intently to you, striving to do all that you have commanded. We know that we are easily distracted by the cares of this life and these things work to sidetrack our minds and hearts from those things that are most necessary. We long to be willing listeners and doers of all that you have commanded. Please help us to hear from you today! We do not want to be like the church of old that failed to hear your voice and died in the wilderness. We long to serve you with willing hearts and minds, loving you with every fiber of our being. Please grant to us your Spirit and be merciful to your church. We pray these things in the name of the Savior, the Lord Jesus. Amen.

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Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, (2 Tim. 3:16, Eph. 2:20) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. (1 John 1:3–4)

Prayer: Almighty God and our Father, we praise you for giving us your Word, which sustains and guides and directs our path. As the only rule by which we can know how to glorify you, we are grateful that you have given us eyes to see, ears to hear, and the Spirit to teach us all that we must know to please you. Forgive us for failing to mediate on the bread of life. Forgive us for spending so much energy in fruitless pursuits and not on your Word. Forgive us for failing to use the means of grace that you have graciously provided that we would live holy lives before you. We pray that your Word would never return void and that it will accomplish all your holy will. We pray that it would be used in such as way as to point many to their great need and then cause them to look to Christ. We pray these things in His name. Amen.

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Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, (2 Tim. 3:16, Eph. 2:20) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. (1 John 1:3–4)

Prayer: Our God in heaven, we thank you that you are a God who has revealed himself to us through your inspired and infallible Word. We live in a world that seeks counsel and knowledge from fallible sources, but you have given us your Word -- the very mind of the living and true God -- that we might know how we are to live. Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. It is profitable for us in its instruction, doctrine, reproof, and correction. We know that as we hear your Word, you have also called us to obey it. We confess that we often take it for granted. So often, we hear your Word and fail to take seriously those things we read and hear. Forgive us for a low appetite of your Word and grant to us a greater hungering and thirsting for it. We pray these things in the name of the living Word, your Son, and our Lord. Amen.

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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 loving and faithful God in heaven: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we bless the name of the Lord Jesus today as the only name given to men whereby we can be saved. We thank you that you are a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God who has made promises for his children. We have been made to glorify you in all that we do. We have also been made to enjoy you forever. We know that we see a tiny fraction of what that will be like in the New Heavens and the New Earth. We long for that day when the distractions and cares of this world, including our sin of omission and commission, will not impede that enjoyment. We long for that day when there will be no more tears or sorrow or pain. We cry out to you, our Savior, to come quickly, Lord. Until then, we ask that you would persevere us by your Spirit working in us that which is well-pleasing in your sight. We pray this is the name that is above every name -- the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Prayer: Our God in heaven, we come to bless and praise you for your many mercies. We thank you that you are not like the dead idols of Israel as you see and hear and speak. They were impotent, but you are omnipotent. You can do exceedingly, abundantly beyond anything we can ask or imagine. We thank you for the daily outpouring of faithfulness to us as your redeemed children. We confess that there are many times in our lives that we are faithless. We know that your sins deserve your wrath, but, in Christ, you have not treated us as our sins deserve.

Today, as we gather to worship you, we pray that you would speak to us through your Word. We long to see you exalted and your Son magnified. We need your Spirit to worship you as you have commanded. Please cause us to listen with minds ready to receive the Word and then go and do what it tells us. We pray that your voice would thunder as in days of old when you spoke to our fathers from your holy mountain. We pray that we would heed your voice and strive to live as faithful ambassadors of the Most High God. We pray these things in the Name of Christ our Lord and King. Amen.

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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 glorious God in heaven, we thank you for granting us another day in which we have the privilege to serve you and love you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are reminded that we are here to serve you, honoring you in all that we do and say. We confess our tendency to stray from our primary purpose. We grieve the sin that indwells us, and we long to be free from it so that we may fully enjoy you. We rest confidently in that hope of the new heavens and the new earth where we will be fully blessed in the full enjoyment of you for all of eternity. Until then, please grant the Eternal Spirit to persevere us and help us, equipping us to glorify you in all that we do. We pray these things in the name of Christ. Amen.

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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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