Sustain in Me a Willing Spirit--Nov. 10, 2017

When Jesus wanted to mourn over the death of John,

he denied himself to care for the crowds.

I am not in the habit of denying myself before you,

O God, although I freely ask help of you.

I ask it now: restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and sustain in me a willing spirit, a spirit

willing to deny myself to be your faithful servant,

for great and amazing are your deeds.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 51; 148; 142; 65

Ezra 7:27-28, 8:21-36

Rev. 15:1-8

Matt. 14:13-21

Selected Verses

Ps. 51:12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
          and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Ezra 8:21

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might deny ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our possessions.

Rev. 15:3

And [those who had conquered the beast] sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
    "Great and amazing are your deeds, 
          Lord God the Almighty!
     Just and true are your ways,
          King of the nations!  …"

Matt. 14:13

Now when Jesus heard [that John the Baptist had been beheaded], he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself.  But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.