30 Day Prayer Guide | Day 20
MORNING PRAYER
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence, stillness, and centering before the God of our salvation.
THE PSALM
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
(Psalms 95:1-7)
MORNING HYMN
How sad our state by nature is, our sin, how deep it stains;
and Satan binds our captive minds fast in his slavish chains.
But there’s a voice of sov’reign grace — sounds from the sacred Word, “Ho, ye despairing sinners, come, and trust up on the Lord.”
My soul obeys h’almighty call, and runs to this relief;
I would believe Thy promise, Lord, O help my unbelief.
Unto the fountain of Thy blood, Incarnate God, I fly;
here let me wash my spotted soul, from crimes of deepest dye. Stretch out Thine arm, victorious King, my reigning sins subdue; and drive the dragon from his seat, with all his hellish crew.
A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, on Thy kind arms I fall;
be thou my strength and righteousness, my Jesus and my all.
Isaac Watts, 1707
PROMPTED PRAYER
- For a heart that finds its all in God
- For the public, collective witness of the Church
- For those who are engaged or who are newly married
- For celibate Christians who struggle with same-sex attraction
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Heavenly Father, you made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you: Look upon the heartfelt desires of your humble servants, and stretch forth the strong hand of your Majesty to be our defense against our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen. (BCP)
EVENING PRAYER
SILENCE [2 min]
Silence, stillness, and centering before the God of our salvation.
THE PSALM
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
(Psalms 91:1–8)
THE APOSTLE’S CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
GOSPEL READING
They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. (John 8:33–43)
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.