We praise you, O Lord, the only living God! We have tasted and seen your goodness and power, and we long to love you with all our heart, soul, and might. Thank you for how you’ve rescued us from slavery to sin and death, and are bringing us into a lasting inheritance for the sake of your name.
Lord, you’ve told us in so many ways that we need to take your words seriously. We confess that we haven’t taught your words diligently and joyfully enough to our children and others with whom we have influence. We haven’t talked of them frequently enough when we sit in our houses or walk by the way, when we lie down and when we rise. We haven’t kept your words in front of us at all times so that our meditations will be centered on you and your purposes. We haven’t done this because we have loved other things more than you. Father, forgive us, and grant us greater grace!
You’ve given us so many good things! Houses, jobs, families, everything we need and enjoy – you’ve led us to a place where we have these or have access to them. Any effort from us is also your gift; you created the opportunities, you created the ability within us to achieve, earn, and gain. We know that there is nothing good we have for which we are not indebted to you! Guard us from forgetting that.
Even though we never dwelled in the pagan Middle East of 3,500 years ago, we know that we, just like Israel of old, are tempted to run after idols. We set up false gods of financial security, of familial comfort, of prestige and accomplishment, of protection and safety, of desire and pleasure. Every day they call to us, seducing us to dethrone you and set them in your place. Holy Spirit, mercifully reveal to each of us the ways in which we are going after the gods of the surrounding peoples, and putting you to the test with our demands for a deity of our own design. Restore our sanity! Show us the weak and passing nature of the things in which we long to trust instead of you. Cleanse us again today from all traces of idolatry!
Shape us into men and women who daily remind ourselves and others about the meaning and wonder of our salvation. Let us rehearse it again and again, like a favorite song stuck in our heads or a gripping video we can’t help but talk about. We agree with you, that shaping our lives around your words and the fear of you will be “for our good always.” We believe you when you say that it will “preserve us alive” and will “be righteousness for us.” Make us people of The Book, for our joy and your glory!
Amen.