Daily Prayer for Wednesday, September 23, 2020

“O Holy Spirit, who did brood upon the chaos, wild and rude…’”        
                                               —-William Whiting, 1860

Preparation for worship
Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit.  Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship…

Opening Sentences                                                        1 Timothy 6:10, 19
The love of wealth is the root of evil.
Our treasure is the gift of life in Christ.

Prayer                                               Book of Common Worship, PC(USA), 2018
Eternal God,
maker of heaven and earth:
You formed us from the dust of the earth,
and by your breath you gave us life.
We glorify you.
Jesus Christ,
the resurrection and the life:
You tasted death for all humanity,
and by rising from the grave
you opened the way to eternal life.
We praise you.
Holy Spirit,
author and giver of life:
You are the comforter of all who sorrow,
our sure confidence
and everlasting hope.
We worship you.
To you, O blessed Trinity,
be glory and honor, forever and ever.  Amen.

Hymn of the Day
You Are Mine, by David Haas.  Listen and be assured. 

Reading of the Day                                                            Genesis 21: 8-21
8 The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. 10 So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.” 11 The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. 13 As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.” 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
15 When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” 19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Prayers for self and others
Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID 19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for Dr. Marshall Cash, working directly with COVID patients in Shreveport, LA.  As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray to God today for government officials charged with making life or death decisions for citizens, that they would be blessed with wisdom.  Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God.

Benediction
Grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory
both now and to the day of eternity.
Amen.   ​