Last night’s post centered on Lent as a time for us to examine our lives and pray for the Lord’s mercy and pardon. The music was Psalm 103 which included the refrain,
Loving and forgiving are you, O Lord,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
loving and forgiving are you.
Tonight’s prayer picks up on the theme of the Lord’s kindness: his desire for us to know it and our need, in so many ways, to receive it…
When confusion and conflict are all around,
Lord, show us your kindness…
When pride and prejudice hijack justice,
Lord, show us your kindness…
When division and discord tear us apart,
Lord, show us your kindness…
When the crude and the crass mock and offend,
Lord, show us your kindness…
When partisan politics blind us to wisdom,
Lord, show us your kindness…
When we’re lost, alone and afraid,
Lord, show us your kindness…
When defeat and despair drain us of hope,
Lord, show us your kindness…
When swagger and smugness stand in for grace,
Lord, show us your kindness…
When our faith flags and we need your Spirit
Lord, show us your kindness…
When we struggle to see through the dark and the dim,
Lord, show us your kindness…
When our souls are chilled by fear and foreboding,
Lord, show us your kindness…
When our sins are many and we’re slow to repent,
Lord, show us your kindness…
Show us your kindness as night comes on
and watch over us while we sleep,
that awake, we might keep watch with you, Lord,
and asleep, rest in your peace…
Psalm 85 by Scott Soper
Lord, let us see your kindness,
Lord, let us see your kindness.
Your kindness and salvation grant us, O Lord.
I will hear what the Lord proclaims:
peace and salvation close at hand,
always near to those who fear him;
glory dwelling in our land.
Kindness and truth shall meet at last;
justice and peace embrace in love.
Truth shall spring up from the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven above.
God will grant abundant grace;
earth will spring up with boundless life.
Blessings flow ever before him
to prepare his way.
