Opening Prayer: Most merciful God, we confess that we have
sinned against You this day, in thought word and deed; by what we have done and
by what we have left undone. We have not
loved You with our whole hearts; we have not loved our neighbor as
ourselves. We are truly sorry and we
humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son
Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in Your
will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Amen. ~The Book of Common Prayer
Scripture: Hosea 14:1-9
Journal: What does the word iniquity mean to you? Where have you stumbled recently because
of your iniquity? Will you take it
to him and have all your iniquity taken away?
Reflection:
My beginning advice to you is this: Always read the
Scriptures with a heart ready to repent.
Receive the storm that repentance brings. Let the holy winds toss you to and fro. You will be awakened to new depths as you
wrestle with the life forces within.
What seems like violence at first will lead you gently into the eye of
God where all is calm and quiet, like the eye of a hurricane. When you finally surrender and stop fighting
the winds, you will be carried into the eye of God. There, you will rest in peace and learn to
see like God. (A Tree Full of Angels by Macrina Wiederkehr)
Prayer
Closing Prayer: O God, I surrender to you the habits and sins that, like frost, chill my soul and cause your life-giving energy to cease its flow in me. Uproot me from the weed patches of evil wherein I have chosen to sink my roots. Plant me instead in your field of righteousness. (Norman Shawchuck from A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God)
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