The Pastor’s Corner

Prayer: Our God in heaven: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we praise your name and thank you for your infinite mercy offered to pitiful creatures of dust. We know our frame that we are dust. Yet, due to your great kindness, you have determined to save a people from their misery. Though we live as pilgrims in this world, exiled from our true home, we thank you that you have not left us alone. You bless us with your presence as you did for the church of old. In those days, you went before them in the pillar of fire and cloud, guiding and directing and protecting them. Today we have the constant presence of your Spirit that encourages and teaches us always present with us leading us to green pastures. We thank you for the promise that you will never leave us or forsake us. Though we often stray, you leave the ninety-nine to pursue your wayward sheep. Safe in your hands, we can never be lost. Please help us, Father, to love you and serve you. You are worthy of our whole lives for all you do for us. We pray all of these things through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer: Grant almighty God that through your kindness and compassion for us, you would keep us from temptation and guard us against the evil one who seeks nothing but the ruination of our souls. We know that he is in your hands and that he can do nothing apart from your divine will. Grant, also, that we would be mindful of his devices and that we would also watch and pray lest we enter into temptation. We know our frame and know that we are prone to wander from your commandments. Often we are the cause of our own fall into sin, knowing that we are easily enticed by our sinful desires, which give birth to sinning against you. We know that we are often our worst enemy, but we are thankful that you provide a way of escape that we may be able to endure in the temptation. We confess to you our weakness and ask that you would grant us more of your Spirit. Without our Mediator, we would miserably fall, so we thank you for his continual supply of grace as he prays for us each day. Protect us and help us through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer: My God—my Father and Preserver—who of your goodness has watched over me during the past night, and brought me to this day, grant also that I may spend it wholly in the worship and service of your most holy deity. Let me not think, or say, or do a single thing which tends not to your service and submission to your will, that thus all my actions may aim at your glory and the salvation of my brethren, while they are taught by my example to serve you. And as you are giving light to this world for the purposes of external life by the rays of the sun, so enlighten my mind by the effulgence of your Spirit, that he may guide me in the way of your righteousness.

Prayer: Grant almighty God that we as your people would learn from the sins and transgressions of those who have gone before us. Please help us to learn from their successes as well. We know that your Word tells us that the things of old happened for our instruction, and yet we sometimes fall into the same traps and ways of life of those who have gone before us. We are slow to learn and often fail to heed the instructions of wiser, more seasoned, and faithful people. Forgive us for being so dull and arrogant in thinking that we are more enlightened today than the church was over the last twenty centuries. Grant to us a willing mind and heart that we would follow the pattern of sound instruction that has been passed down to us. Please spare your church from the novelty and inventions of men. Protect the pulpits of your churches from those who fail to heed the old paths and set out to forge a new road that leads to destruction. Please protect your church from those who have good intentions, but the end is death. We know that your Son told us that this would happen and that many will seek preaching that will not conform to sound doctrine. Please grant to us the wisdom to see the putrid fruit of their ways. Please grant more of your Spirit that we may discern these things through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Romans 12:9-13

During my seminary days, there was a man that labored in the pastorate for over forty years that I came to know and appreciate. In many ways, our discussions, chats, and times of thinking out loud together were a seminary education in itself. His wisdom and counsel to me forged more into my heart and mind than some of my classes. The importance of that friendship granted me the opportunity to learn from one who had walked the road of ministerial life and walked it well. One of the things he would repeatedly tell me is, "Bill, more prayer!" I have vivid memories of the times that we talked in which he would remind me of that simple truth: more prayer!