For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. (Romans 15:4).
Our Father in Heaven, You have revealed Your character and Your word so that we might know You and exalt You. We pray like the psalmist, "I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word" (Psalm 138:2 - ESV).
You have given us the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make [us] wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15). You have given us Yourself so that we might know You, and learn Your ways.
Lord God, You gave Your law to Moses, entrusting to him its preservation—its perpetuation through all generations. And even up to his final blessing, he spoke of Your amazing love and Your guidance, "Surely it is You who love the people...; and from You [they] receive instruction…" (Deuteronomy 33:3).
It is this record, these commandments, instructions, and events that You have preserved for us—defended through centuries of peril and threat—for our good. You have assured us that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Thank You for the story of the Bible—the story of Your love to fallen humanity—in which are all the familiar themes of our lives. We see so much of ourselves in the untouched portrayal of its characters—their circumstances, their flaws, their struggles, their failures, their victories through Your grace. Thank You for giving them to us as examples, so that we might be taught, and guided, and warned (1 Corinthians 10:11).
Help us, O Lord, in these days of confusion, deception, instability, uncertainty and insecurity, to hold fast to Your word. Teach us to cry out, like Moses, "teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You" (Exodus 33:13). Help us to hide Your word in our heart that we might not sin against You (Psalm 119:11). Let Your word be a lamp for [our] feet, a light on [our] path (Psalm 119:105).
Kindle the fire of the Holy Spirit in us. Renew our minds with fresh insights into Your mercy; strengthen our hearts with new understanding of Your grace. Give us faith and resolve, encouragement and endurance. Fill our dark despondency with Your hope, our unsettled weariness with Your peace.
O perfect Life, be Thou their full assurance, Of tender charity and steadfast faith, Of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance, With childlike trust that fears not pain nor death.
Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow; Grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife; And to life’s day the glorious unknown morrow That dawns upon eternal love and life.
~ Dorothy F. Gurney ~ 1883
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