Matthew 15
Pastor Lawrence
Prayer of Confession: Father, we have worshipped you in vain, supposedly honoring you with our lips when our hearts have been far from you. Likewise, what has come out of our mouths proves that there is still defilement deep within our hearts. There are still many evil thoughts, murderous thoughts, adulterous thoughts, immoral thoughts, thieving thoughts, false and slanderous thoughts abiding within. Indeed, there is great hypocrisy within us, for we have made void the Word of God as soon as we have read it and as soon as we have heard it preached. For we have broken your commandments again and again for the sake of our own lusts and traditions. Oh, Lord, have mercy upon us and forgive us for our many sins, and root up everything from our hearts that you yourself have not planted there. O God our strength, help us and do no send us away. We are weak and helpless, oppressed by our many sins. Free us from their power that we might freely serve and glorify the God of Israel.
Prayer of Devotion: Lord, give us this day our daily bread, every physical and spiritual provision, and have compassion upon your people not merely filling our bellies with food, but filling our hearts with joy. Satisfy us this morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days (Ps 90:14).