The good news of Christ
The mountains’ rocks are trembling,
Shaken to the roots;
The armies are assembling,
On the ground are boots.
Across the skies are flying
Angels with their swords,
To judge the unchaste defying
Christ, the Lord of lords.
Lord, come to save your children —
Prayers to you ascend;
Come carry up this pilgrim —
Rest without end.
Do I believe in you, O Lord?
Yes, I believe! I do and will.
Help me in my unbelief!
I will trust you all the day long.
Let not my needs overwhelm me.
Keep enemies from overrunning me.
Preserve me for the Kingdom’s field.
Give me sight to see your glory.
Open my ears to hear the reading
Of the Scroll, for saving wisdom.
Make the present full of attention,
Senses aware of your Holy Spirit,
My tether the Cross where sins are nailed,
The gospel’s chains my desired freedom.
Yes, I believe your word, O God!
Descend, that I might rise with you.
2 Cor 5.16-17
“Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.”
Eph 4.23 NLT
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Dear God, help me to accept the present and not pine for the past, nor worry about the future. Make me content in this moment. Help me to see how you are fulfilling each need of mine. I trust in you. I will call upon you, confident of answer. I will set my watch for your movement in my direction. You are God who feels compassion for his people. You care for your own. You are the fountain that slakes our thirst.
Build me up in faith, so that I, like those of old, might patiently wait upon the arrival of what I seek. Make me worthy to be included in their midst. Move your Spirit among us. Pursue your plan with us as your instrument of peace. Let the devil not frustrate your will for us. Keep us from temptation and from evil. Let us not return evil for evil, but rather good. Make us light in this world of darkness.
Be present, O Lord, in the small things today, and make them grow by your immense power. Act in this day to bring forward the kingdom’s cause. Let each brother and sister be sensitive to your will, desiring your glory, working for the gospel, rejoicing in the Spirit. So we pray in Christ, Amen.
Doubt is darkness — I would walk in light —
Even the children know the blinding fright
Of blackness — But adults learn to love the shadow —
Here reign both open shame and bitterest sorrow.
To you, O Lord, the God of splendor and glory,
I turn — as face to sun, to feel your very
Presence and power — no cloud to cast a gloom
Upon you — filling even an empty tomb.
O Lord, to walk before you I’m content,
Where peace flowers along the rocky way,
Where joy descends like rain to liven the heart,
And love perfumes the air with heaven’s scent.
Let not the flesh make us, your saints, lose sight,
Keep feet from stepping aside, in mud and clay,
From us let not the Spirit’s breath depart,
Permit us to walk under your warming light.
Father, so many people groups remain to be reached. They live not only in remote corners of the earth, but near us as well, in poor ghettos and rich enclaves, behind walls of their own choosing or imposed upon them, people considered sane and others thought to be crazy, people who suffer great pain or wrongs, others who live in pleasure and luxury. Let us never refrain from speaking and from offering the salvation in Christ that we have come to know.
Let us see this day with hope and expectation. Help us hold on to faith in the flurry of activities, in the whirl of work and demands. Show us the opportunities that lie before us. Give us courage to create moments of openness by our demeanor and speech.
Make us see that in our world we deal with souls who will live forever in heaven or hell, people who were created in your image, individuals with perspectives, opinions, fears, and ambitions. Help us hear and observe to understand, that we might more effectively share the truth of the gospel.
Let the Good News be to us our life. Let us be willing to surrender all for the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be wholly dependent upon the guidance of your Spirit. Let your love be our most precious possession. Let your presence comfort and encourage us at every step of our journey toward eternity. Amen!
Thank you, Father, for the new year,
For the old that brought us blessing,
For the friends that sharpened us,
For the family that surrounds us,
For work to give meaning,
For walking in your light,
For forgiveness for every sin,
For fellowship with the saints,
For opportunities of tomorrow,
For joy in the present,
For the lessons of the past,
For your plan before time began,
For hope of Jesus’ coming,
For strength in frequent suffering,
For power in the Spirit,
For knowledge to give us confidence,
For love that binds together,
Undying love forever.
Dear God, Creator of seasonal lights,
The Maker and Marker of human time —
We’ve limited years, our earthly lot
By land and sea and air contained.
The imagination flies beyond,
In search of your eternity;
So help us live to apprehend
The promised life we cannot see.
Father, look into my heart. You know what’s there.
You know the corners that still hide the darkness.
Sweep in with your light to cleanse and purify.
Make me pure for full possession by your Spirit.
Take full control of my being, words, and actions.
Let Jesus lead in every step along the way.
May he grow before my eyes and in the world’s sight.
Enlarge the only true hope of eternal life.
Build up our holy faith as your chosen ones.
Strengthen our hands for faithful life and service.