A Listening Return - Zechariah 1:1-6

Father of words;

You have been angry with our ancestors

Because they have not listened.

You have called us to return.

You have promised to return to us.

Give us ears that listen,

And wills that are attentive.

Give us repentance we pray;

Hearts turned towards your words.

Amen

Jesus Christ and him Crucified - 1 Corinthians 2:2

Father of Jesus,

We commit to your son,

To his deity, his humanity and his Lordship over us.

We declare he is the anointed, Messiah king,

Promised by the prophets,

Ruler of heaven and earth.

We submit ourselves to him.

We desire to love him.

We embrace his crucifixion.

We declare he died for us,

It was our sin that placed him on the cross.

That cross is our beacon of hope,

   Our lighthouse for direction,

   Our only hope of mercy,

   Our confidence in our brokenness,

   The goal for our hearts,

And the rule for our lives.

May we bear it,

   Live it,

   Love it,

   Proclaim it,

   Be moulded by it,

And trust the one who died on it.

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   

Standing Firm - Ephesians 6:10-20

Father, I am

Weak,

Wicked,

Doubting,

Tempted,

Uncertain,

And overconfident in my ability to stand firm.

There have been many times when you have

Kept me in my stupidity;

Saved me from my lusts;

Snatched me from my apostasy;

Strengthened me in my cowardice;

And reminded me in my unbelief.

Keep me from forgetting the truth.

May the gospel

Strengthen my resolve;

Smother my unrighteousness;

Soften my doubts;

And enable me to stand firm.

May your word inhabit my heart,

And may prayer be my constant practice.

For your glory alone.

Amandla - Ephesians 5:21-6:9

Father, you are a God who submits and serves.

May submission be my heart’s cry; and the desire for power be my enemy.

May I trust myself to others; may my honour not be my concern.

May I seek to serve rather than seek to rule.

May I give rather than take.

May I elevate others and humble myself.

May my status as loved and cherished by you define my identity rather than the alienation and anger of the world.

As we belong, united to each other; may we hold fast, united together.

May our obedience lead to blessing.

May service and sincerity be our goals.

As we become Christlike in all we do

Amen

Ephesians 4:17-5:20 - The Strategy for Sin

Father,

Our futile minds seek to be like everyone else;

We were darkened, alienated, ignorant, hard-hearted, callous, greedy and impure.

But we have learned Christ!

May we put off our corrupt and deceitful desires.

May we be renewed in our minds putting on the new self, to be righteous and holy like you.

May we not grieve the Spirit but instead be filled by the Spirit as we replace

Lies with truth;

Anger with peace;

Theft with generosity;

Evil talk with encouragement;

Malice with kindness;

Anger with forgiveness;

Impurity with gratitude;

Darkness with light;

Foolishness with wisdom;

Drunkenness with praise.

And domination with submission.