“O God, You have taught me from my youth, and I still declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your might to this generation, and Your power to everyone who is to come. “ Psalm 71:17-18
Many can join in this prayer. We have been taught God’s Word from our youth, and we have declared the wonderful works of God in sending His Son to redeem us and to grant us forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation through faith in His name. Now, finding ourselves old and gray, we pray that God would not cast us off but continue to use us to bear witness to present and future generations of the mighty workings of God, who has both created and redeemed us through the gift of His Son.
O gracious and merciful God, continue to grant me the strength to declare Your name and all You have done for us to this generation and to those yet to come. Amen.
“A woman must not wear man’s clothing, nor is a man to put on a woman’s clothing, for all who do so are abominations to the LORD your God.” Deuteronomy 22:5
Cross-dressing may have the approval and protection of civil governments, but who will protect those who practice such abominations from God’s wrath? The only way to escape God’s wrath and eternal punishment for sin is to repent and to cling in faith to the cross of Jesus for pardon and forgiveness.
Move me to repent of my sins, O LORD, and look to You for mercy in the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, Your Son and my Savior. Amen.
“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For in You my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge, until these calamities pass by.” Psalm 57:1
Life is full of troubles and heartaches, but believers trust in the LORD and in His mercy in Christ Jesus. They take shelter under the shadow of His wings — at the mercy seat of Christ — until the troubles of this life are past and they are received into God’s heavenly kingdom of glory.
Keep me, O God, under the shadow of Your wings, at the mercy seat of Christ Jesus, until the troubles of this life are past and I am with You in the mansions of Your house forevermore. Amen.
“The heart is more deceitful than all things and desperately wicked; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
A close look into the mirror of God’s law shows us the true condition of our hearts — inclined to selfishness and sin against God’s commandments and deceiving us into thinking we are good. Only Christ is good, and He is the only Savior!
Have mercy upon me, O God, and forgive the wickedness of my heart for the sake of the shed blood of Christ Jesus, my Savior. In His name, I pray. Amen.
“Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children. Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands among us; yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:16-17
Moses prays that the mighty working of God would be revealed to and seen by those who fear the LORD, that they would partake of the beautiful blessings of the LORD, offered and given to those who trust in Him for mercy and forgiveness in the Son and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. And Moses prays for the blessing of the LORD upon our service to Him — upon our proclaiming of the saving Gospel of forgiveness and life in Christ Jesus.
Open our eyes, O LORD, to see the truth of Your Word that we might repent of our sins and partake of the salvation You have provided for us in the Son. And send Your Holy Spirit that others, too, might hear and believe the saving Gospel. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
