Father in heaven,
You are the covenant-keeping God, faithful from Abraham to Christ, faithful through famine, exile, suffering, wilderness, and waiting. Teach us to remember Your works and seek Your face continually. Keep us from forgetting Your mercies when we are comfortable, and from doubting Your promises when we are afflicted.
Humble us under Your Word. Every word of Yours proves true. Deliver us from proud thoughts, false speech, covetous desires, and discontented hearts. Give us neither the pride that comes from abundance nor the unbelief that comes from fear of lack. Give us what is needful, and make us wise in the fear of the Lord.
We thank You for Jesus Christ, the promised Seed, who redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. We renounce all confidence in the flesh, all self-made righteousness, and all slavery to man-made religion. By Your Spirit, make us live as sons and heirs, crying, “Abba, Father,” with faith, reverence, and love.
Lord Jesus, in You the fullness of deity dwells bodily, and we have been filled in You. Keep us from being taken captive by hollow philosophy, worldly tradition, empty asceticism, or anything that does not hold fast to You. Put to death what is earthly in us. Clothe us with compassion, humility, patience, forgiveness, love, peace, and thankfulness. Let Your Word dwell richly among us.
By Your once-for-all sacrifice, give us holy boldness to draw near. Wash our consciences from guilt, strengthen our confession, and keep us from shrinking back. Make us faithful in the assembly of the saints. Teach us to stir one another up to love and good works, to endure reproach, and to wait for the Day when Christ returns.
Open doors for the gospel. Make our speech gracious and seasoned with salt. Order our homes, our labor, our worship, and our witness under the lordship of Christ.
We come not in our own merit, but through the blood of Jesus, our mediator, sacrifice, priest, king, and hope.
In His name, amen.