Sunday's Comin' 8/2/2014

Joseph Pipa, in his book The Lord's Day, has collected some prayers from other sources. The one below is from James W. Weir, Home Worship: A Series of Topical Prayers for Use in the Family. The portion of it quoted here is a prayer for those who minister (a bit self serving); and for the congregation.

Lord, bless those who shall minister in holy things this day. Give them the unction of the Holy One. Let the love of God and of truth and of souls animate them in all the duties of the sanctuary. Give them wisdom to understand and zeal to declare the whole counsel of God. Oh, may they, as they stand between the living and the dead, encourage thy people in the narrow way of righteousness and salvation and warn the ungodly to flee from the broad way of sin and death...

O Lord, bless thy people this day. Let the worship they shall offer thee be full of faith and fervency, and be answered by blessings on themselves and others. Let the truth they hear instruct and quicken and sanctify them, that they may cry out, 'How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! A day in thy courts is better than a thousand. We had rather be doorkeepers in thy house than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.' Make their necessary household and social intercourse this day consistent with holy time and mutually profitable for Sabbath-day blessings. Let thy testimonies and works and ways be their meditation. And, O Thou that seest in secret, but rewardest openly, may they enter into their closet and enjoy to-day precious seasons of communion with thee, the Father of spirits.

The Lord's Day is a weekly reminder that we are dependent creatures in need of physical rest and spiritual renewal.

— Burk Parsons (@BurkParsons) July 27, 2014