Prayer for God's Leading: Colossians 1:9-14
Shaping a time of prayer for dwelling with Bible texts, prayer responses, songs of faith, and a concluding benediction.
Orienting Text:
Our Father, hallowed be your name
Help us to truly know you
to honor, glorify, and praise you
for all your works
and for all that shines forth from them:
your almighty power, wisdom, kindness,
justice, mercy, and truth
Help us to direct all our living—what we think, say, and do—
so that your name will never be blasphemed because of us
but always honored and praised. -Heidelberg Catechism, QA 122
Quiet Reflection
Central Scripture Text:
For this reason, since the day we heard it,
we have not ceased praying for you and
asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s
will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord,
fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work
and as you grow in the knowledge of God.
May you be made strong with all the strength
that comes from his glorious power,
and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience,
while joyfully giving thanks to the Father,
who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
He has rescued us from the power of darkness
and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. -Colossians 1:9-14
Prayer
Circle us, Lord, in this time of discernment,
fill us with your knowledge, and empty us of self-reliance,
increase our Godly wisdom, and decrease our human arrogance,
grow your fruit in us, and prune away any spiritual decay,
strengthen your Spirit’s power within us, and weaken our own striving,
deepen our endurance and patience,
and diminish our short sightedness and need for quick fixes,
bring us into your kingdom of light, and rescue us from the dominion of darkness,
May you, Triune God – Father, Son & Spirit—encircle us
even as you lead us on this journey of discernment. Amen.
-Rev. Willemina Zwart
Quiet Reflection
Musical Reflections
-
The Aeolians of Oakwood University: " Jehovah Sabaoth" (God of Angel Armies)
- Kiran Young Wimberly: "Praise the Lord, All the Earth"
Blessing
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. —Romans 15:13