A Year of Prayer: Season One Weekday DevotionalsSample

This week, we will explore different elements of the scripture through poetry.

Forgive Your people, O Lord.
Forgive us, and show how mighty
Your mercy
is to us, O King.
Our throats are parched. We have thirsts we cannot quench –
we go here and there – everywhere
apart from
to Your living water

Forgive us. Give ear to Your humble servant, My King – though I may bumble my speech and quake in Your presence, give ear to my plea for those called by Your holy,
holy,
holy Name!

Do not forget us in Your anger, O Lord.

We are unrighteous and show no mercy, no favour to the oppressed or burdened.
We enjoy seats of honour and praise, riches won by unjust means

Rich meat and drink, while our brothers starve and our sisters faint from thirst.
We cry “Peace, peace!” – when there is no peace
We say “Let it be well with you!” – while the poor and crippled go unaided in life
to death

Eternity

Spent apart from Your glorious presence.

Open our eyes Lord.

Refresh us in Your ways, and the ways of Life, and Your good laws,
Renew us – give us your Spirit once again.
We will not be foolish
We will not forget Your good Word
We will bind it to our hearts, our necks, our feet – our paths will be straight as we follow Your voice.

Do not depart from Your people, O mighty and Just one!

Let us seek only to serve You – give us hearts refined by fire,
purified as silver and gold,
faultless,
worthy of our
King.

Jesus – minister for us!
Plead for us
before all heaven and the stars and universe
for Your people whom You have saved out of their sin
by Your mighty hand
out of their unrighteousness;
those for whom the blood of the Lamb is their banner,
their strength,
their hope.
Those whose hearts are set upon Your kingdom,
who count Your beautiful name as their joy, prize, and shield.


You are our fortress,
Our mighty deliverer.

Strengthen failing limbs and flailing hands,
Strengthen wavering faiths and quavering voices
Give us the words, oh Spirit, to speak
words of adoration and praise
let us open our mouths to quell storms of hate and injustice
and instead, unleash a flood of
truth and righteousness
healing and hope.
Salvation.
Mark us as a people of holiness
let us be light
let us be Your feet and hands and joy.

Forgive us Lord.

Call your people to return to you.
Let us listen for Your voice and enter Your kingdom with praise.
Delight in Your people once more – You are our crown. You are our mighty warrior, the one for whom the earth crows with joy, the rocks sing endlessly, the stars scream adoration, and in whom our hope is set.

Do not forget us in Your anger, Lord. Do not forget the ones whom You promised to save.

Prayer: Jesus, help me to imbibe your word and drink afresh from your wells of mercy. Let me draw deeply from your deep grace.

Action: Reflect on a line or section of the poem that stuck with you. How might this section speak to your ‘act justly, love mercy, walk humbly’ endeavours in the weeks to come?