King Jesus,
You are the God who can calm a storm with a word. Be the God of calm for us. Whenever we are consumed by anxiety, or fear, or anger, or the tension and stresses of this world, give each of us your stillness. Renew our hearts with your peace, Lord, and have us know and trust that we are in your hands.
Lord,
When our lives feel like a struggle to keep afloat. When our hearts are heavy and you feel far away, rest us in the truth that You are as near to us as our next breath. And that in the midst of the turbulent distractions of life, by your Word you are working to refresh us, restore us, and to renew a right spirit within us.
Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Open our hearts and turn us to love the least among us, the “different”, the stranger, the outcast.
Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. When we are beset by anger or resentment, have us recall that Christ, who indeed had reason to avenge himself, instead intercedes with tears and cries of mercy upon mercy, grace upon grace.
Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Cause us to love, not in selective mercy, but with the fullness of Christ’s compassionate heart. For you show your love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Give us the heart and spirit of Christ, that we might be His image, His hands, and His mouthpiece of the Good News of His present and eternal Kingdom.
AMEN