DEVOTION:
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
PRAYER:
Almighty and Holy God, on this mid-week morning we gather our hearts and minds as we continue this solemn journey of Lent, we pause to draw nearer to You. You, O Lord, are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. We thank You for the gift of this day, for the breath in our lungs, and for the community of faith that surrounds us. Lord, we lift up to You all those among us and beyond who are touched by loss. Comfort them with Your loving presence, and wrap them in Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Help them to find solace in Your promises and strength in the community of believers that surrounds them. Help us to be Your loving hands and feet. We pray for those who are confronting the challenges of cancer treatments. Lord, grant them courage, hope, and physical strength. May they feel Your hand guiding their medical teams and Your spirit comforting their spirits on the toughest days. Let them sense Your nearness and find rest in Your shadow.
We remember those in recovery, those who are taking steps forward each day. Bless their paths, We pray O God, for those who have gone through surgeries or procedures. Help them to see progress, even when it seems slow, and renew their spirits with each new dawn. We pray for our Church family, we seek Your guidance and blessing. We pray for our financial needs, that You would provide abundantly and wisely, allowing us to continue Your work without hindrance. We also seek spiritual growth, that we may deepen our faith and love for You and for each other. Cultivate in us generous hearts, open hands, and willing spirits.
As we continue through this season of Lent, help us to reflect deeply on the sacrifice of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us not wander from the path of self-examination and penitence but rather embrace the transformative power of Your grace. May our fasting, our prayers, and our almsgiving be pleasing in Your sight. Unite us, Father, in our shared journey toward the cross and beyond, to the glorious morning of the resurrection. Let hope rise in our hearts and spill over into our words and deeds. We pray all this in the precious name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.