30 Day Prayer Guide | Day 16
MORNING PRAYER
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence, stillness, and centering before the God of our salvation.
THE PSALM
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure. You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves. Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved! (Psalms 80:1–7)
MORNING HYMN
Heal me, hands of Jesus, and search out all my pain;
restore my hope, remove my fear, and bring me peace again.
Cleanse me, blood of Jesus, take bitterness away;
let me forgive as one forgiven and bring me peace today.
Know me, mind of Jesus, and show me all my sin;
dispel the memories of guilt and bring me peace within.
Fill me, joy of Jesus; anxiety shall cease,
and heaven’s serenity be mine, for Jesus brings me peace!
Michael A. Perry, 1982
PROMPTED PRAYER
For God to give his justice to the marginalized, the orphan, and the poor
For openness and honesty in the presence of God
For those who work in social services
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
EVENING PRAYER
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence, stillness, and centering before the God of our salvation.
THE PSALM
Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes! Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die! Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord! But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
(Psalms 79:8–13)
CONFESSION & ASSURANCE
Uncover the things I hide. (Canyon Road: A Book of Prayer)
By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
GOSPEL READING
Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?” (John 7:25–31)
MEDITATIVE PRAYER
Come and make all things new;
Build up this ruined earth;
Restore our faded Paradise, creation’s second birth.
Come, and begin Thy reign of everlasting peace;
Come, take the kingdom to Thyself, great King of Righteousness.
Horatius Bonar, 19th century
THE BENEDICTION
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalms 147:3)
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence and stillness, as God has the last word to finish the day. He labors while you sleep.