Invitation — Psalm 71:19
"Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God?"
Quiet
Bible Song — Psalm 135:1-5, 13-14
Praise the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord;
praise him, you servants of the Lord,
you who minister in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own,
Israel to be his treasured possession.
I know that the Lord is great,
that our Lord is greater than all gods...
Your name, Lord, endures forever,
your renown, Lord, through all generations.
For the Lord will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants.
Bible Reading — Jeremiah 29:10-14
This is what the Lord says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
Quiet
Dwelling
Remind yourself you are in God's presence and read again ... notice how God might be speaking to you through his Word — dwell on a word or phrase that jumps out at you ... let your heart respond to God in prayer ... take refreshment in God's presence.
Free Prayer
- for the Christlike ability to deny ourselves and serve others
- for the commitment to do justice and show mercy
- for those who are struggling with peer pressure
Prayer — HC 117
Prospering God, teach me to seek you in my praying. I'm not asking for the right words, because prayers can be proper, even beautiful, yet reveal nothing of my heart. I'm asking for the right heart, a beautiful desperation for you — born out of my ragged need, holding nothing back — that sends me on a full-out sprint for you and your grace in Jesus. Amen.
Blessing — 2 Sam. 7:29
"Bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever."