Facing Fear - John 6:1-21

 Father,
Give us a sense of the greatness of Jesus,
That we might remember our smallness,
Even as we revel in his greatness.
May we not live afraid,
Instead
Enable us to live trusting your power
Repenting of our fears
Looking to Jesus
Amen
 

Confession - Fear (John 6:1-21)

Our loving heavenly Father
Our many fears display our forgetfulness of your greatness
Forgive us that we treat you as if you are
Small
Inconsequential
Trivial
When you are eternal.
Forgive us that we consider ourselves great.
Our fears show the folly of our thinking
Restore us
Forgive us
Remind us
Give us such a sense of your greatness
May we revel in your love for us.
And so, love you more
Amen 

He is not a tame lion - 1 Samuel 3:19-7:2

Father we treat you as a pet to be coddled and discarded.

We treat you as a lucky charm in the midst of our life battles.

We desire your presence and your deliverance but not your exclusive demand for our worship.

May we know something of your greatness.

May we bow to your sovereign rule over all the gods of our hearts.

May we not dismiss their behaviour as unlike our own

But instead reflect on our fickle hearts and our feeble love.

And like Samuel may we treasure you alone…

Choosing Suffering

Matthew 5:38-48; Mark 8:27-38                 

Father,

The cross stands as a word of your devotion to your world.

  It speaks of your justice.

  It sings of your mercy.

  It trumpets your grace.

  And it calls us to come and die.

But we don’t want to.

  We are ashamed of it.

  We do not want to carry it.

  We want to be left alone in our ease and our comfort.

Remind us today that we can gain the whole world and yet forfeit our souls;

  That we can desire to save our lives yet lose them;

  And desire to lose our lives yet save them.

Build in us cross-shaped obedience.

  Enemy loving grace.

  Extravagant generosity.

  Miraculous forgiveness.

  And sacrificial service.

Amen

Thinking God's thoughts - Luke 11:1-13 - Lord’s Prayer #2

Father, change our hearts.

Change the direction of our thoughts.

Change our desires, our wishes and our dreams.

Fill us with your desires, promises and activity.

Change the direction of our lives.

Make us Godward not inward,

Outward not self-focused.

Redeem our motives,

Sanctify our prayers.

Redirect our activity.

Hallow your name.

Bring your kingdom.

And may your purposes prevail.

For your glory alone.

We Dare to call him Father Luke 11:1-13 The Lord’s Prayer #1

Our Father, you are good!

You will not give us a snake when we ask for a fish;

Nor a scorpion when we ask for an egg.

Give us your Holy Spirit.

Our Father in heaven, you are great!

The heavens are enclosed by your hand;

The oceans are a drop in a bucket.

You have made all things well,

And you have made all things great to show us a glimpse of your greatness.

May we know you and so have confidence in your ability to grant what we ask.

For your glory alone   

The God of Eternal Power

Father of Eternal Power,

You are the king of divine nature,

You show your greatness in your creation.

We are without excuse.

We have not honoured you as you deserve.

We have not given thanks to you for what you have made.

Our thinking has become futile and our hearts darkened.

We have become fools though we think we are wise.

We exchange your glory for the stuff of this world;

And your wrath is rightly upon us.

Be merciful to us we pray.

Do not hand us over to depravity and destruction

Forgive us we pray and save us because of Jesus Christ our Lord

Amen

Isaiah 40

Father

We desire to see you

To know your might and to be your reward.

You have measured the heavens and weighed the earth,

No-one comes close to your greatness.

You have measured us and directed our paths;

You watch us;

You watch rulers and nations;

You blow on them and they cease to be;

No-one comes close to your greatness.

But for those who wait on you,

You grant strength and power.

You renew them when they stumble and fall.

Those who hope in you have their strength renewed;

They will soar on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not be faint.