February 17, 2021 Prayer - Ash Wednesday

Forgiving God,

How good it is to praise our God!  You determine the number of the stars and calls each of them by name.  Great are you, Lord, and mighty in power; your understanding has no limit.  Thank you that you build up your children - you gather the exiles, heal the brokenhearted, and bind up their wounds.  Thank you that you sustain the humble but cast the wicked to the ground.  Thank you that on this Ash Wednesday, you call your children to repentance because you want us to be able too enter your presence.  We confess our sins to you; cleanse us from our unrighteousness.  Help us embrace the forgiveness and grace you offer us through Jesus Christ.  Spirit of the Sovereign Lord, pour out on your forgiven and loved children so we are anointed to proclaim your Good News to the poor, captives, and those who grieve and despair.  Help us to show your Light and Love to those who struggle - to bestow on them a crown of beauty and joy, instead of ashes and mourning. May you strengthen us to be oaks of righteousness that display the splendor, majesty and glory of your Name.  In Jesus's name we pray, Amen. 

"Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,

    how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

    he gathers the exiles of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted

    and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars

    and calls them each by name.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

    his understanding has no limit.

The Lord sustains the humble

    but casts the wicked to the ground." (Psalm 147:1-6 NIV)

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 NIV)

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor." (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)