30 Day Prayer Guide | Day 18
MORNING PRAYER
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence, stillness, and centering before the God of our salvation.
THE PSALM
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word! Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.
(Psalm 119:104-112)
MORNING HYMN
I asked the Lord that I might grow in faith and love and ev'ry grace;
might more of his salvation know, and seek more earnestly his face.
’Twas he who taught me thus to pray, and he, I trust, has answered pray'r, but it has been in such a way as almost drove me to despair.
I hoped that in some favored hour at once he’d answer my request,
and by his love’s constraining pow’r subdue my sins and give me rest. Instead of this he made me feel the hidden evils of my heart,
and let the angry pow’rs of hell assault my soul in ev'ry part.
Yea more, with his own hand he seemed intent to aggravate my woe,
crossed all the fair designs I schemed, humbled my heart, and laid me low. "Lord, why is this," I, trembling, cried; "Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?" "Tis in this way," the Lord replied, "I answer prayer for grace and faith. "These inward trials I employ from self and pride to set thee free,
and break thy schemes of earthly joy that thou may’st find thy all in me."
John Newton, 1779
PROMPTED PRAYER
- For all of our life to be lived to the glory of God
- For those mourning a death
- For those who live as single persons
- For those who are unable to have children
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
God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? [Selah] Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!
(Psalm 82)
CONFESSION & ASSURANCE
For the things I did that I shouldn’t have done. For the things I didn’t do that I should've done.
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (Psalm 32:1)
GOSPEL READING
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.
(John 8:12–16)
THE GLORIA
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
SPACE FOR REFLECTION
Pause at the end of this day. Enjoy communion with the living God: Father, Son, and Spirit. Listen for the voice of God in the Scriptures. Read. Meditate. Pray. Contemplate. Seek God’s face.
THE BENEDICTION
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
(Psalm 147:3)
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence and stillness, as God has the last word to finish the day. He labors while you sleep.