Ash Wednesday Prayer--Feb. 10, 2016

[From Feb. 17, 2010 archive]

I went up to pray tonight.

I was a sinner, like the Pharisee;

I was a sinner, like the tax collector.

I struggle against sin, my own sin and the sin of others,

but I grow weary of the struggle, and I lose heart.

God, make me strong and give my heart courage—

courage to wait for you, believing I will yet see your goodness.

Help me seek good and not evil; and be with me, Jesus—

you who endured great hostility while shedding your blood.

For I repent of my sin.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 5, 147:1-11, 27, 51

Amos 5:6-15

Heb. 12:1-14

Luke 18:9-14

Selected Verses

Ps. 27:13-14

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD

            in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage;

            wait for the LORD!

Amos 5:14

Seek good and not evil,

            that you may live;

and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you,

            just as you have said.

Heb. 12:3-4

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.  In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Luke 18:9-10

[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  …  ”