Wednesday - Enter In - Day 3
Welcome to daily prayer. This week we are reflecting on a life of gratitude. Today we reflect on joyful praise—the kind of joy that resists despair and reminds us who we belong to. Joy is not denial of hardship; it is rejoicing in God’s grace.
As we begin our prayer now, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the LORD.
Lord, I come to you to be renewed. I lay down my heaviness, my fear, and my disappointment. I open my heart to the joy that comes from your presence. O Lord, open my eyes to see you, open my ears to hear you, and open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
A Scripture Reading from Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
A Prayer of Adoration
Faithful Lord, You are God. You have made me and I belong to you. I join with the Psalmist in saying, “Your steadfast love endures forever, and your faithfulness reaches every generation.” It was true thousands of years ago and it is true today. I praise you with gladness and gratitude. We are your people. Your love endures forever. You made me and take care of me and for that, I adore you.
A Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, I confess that I often approach you weighed down and forgetting your goodness. I allow disappointment and fear to steal my delight in you. Forgive me for forgetting that joy in you is strength. Lord, restore to me the joy of your goodness and the joy of your salvation.
A Prayer of Trust
Father, you are my Shepherd, and I am safe in you. You are my refuge, my protection, my provider. I trust that you are my maker and my times are in your hand.
A Prayer of Intercession
Shepherd of your people, draw near to those who feel unseen or distant from you today. I pray for those who want to rejoice but are finding it very difficult. Give them a deeper revelation that you are their maker, their sustainer, and that you have never left them.
Lord, I pray for the prodigals who are far off from you. I pray that you would turn their hearts towards you.
And Lord, for the older brother standing outside the party. Soften their heart. Soften their hearts from disappointment, from pride, from entitlement. Lord, would you bring them into your house.
Let your people be marked by joyful worship and happy praise.
A Moment of Reflection
Lord, what is keeping me from finding my joy in you?
A Closing Prayer
Lord, today I rejoice in your goodness. I resist despair and apathy and choose to rejoice in you. Jesus, you have made a way for me to freely and gladly come into the presence with no guilt and great joy. Thank you Lord. Thank you. Today, I am thankful that you are a good shepherd and I am your little lamb.
In the name of Jesus, Amen
As we finish this time, take a few minutes to sing a joyful song of praise to the LORD. He is worthy!