Opening Prayer: Psalm 62: 5-12

Here’s an opening prayer based on Psalm 62:5-12, one of the suggested scripture readings for the third Sunday after Epiphany.  It was written by Joan Stott.

Prayer of Petition and Trust

(based on Psalm 62: 5-12)

God of unfailing love, with confidence we gather to worship you; to praise your holy name; to express to you our trust and confidence in your promise of security and refuge within your loving presence.

Within the safety of your love, we honour you for the commitment you have made to your people, and pray that your people will respond to that love with trust and an acceptance of God’s merciful forgiveness.

If only all your people showed the same commitment to you, O God, as you show towards them – they would know a that life lived within God’s presence is one that is rich beyond our understanding, and with a depth of inner peace that can only be hoped for and dreamed about.

O God, our Rock and our Redeemer, you are our stronghold against the forces within human life that confront us each day; and which try to shake our faith and resolve; so we look to you in confidence and trust. We pour out our hearts to you O God, because our God is there waiting to lovingly respond to our needs, and quietly waits to offer us love and acceptance, and a secure road to travel that will lead us to our home in God. Thanks be to God - our Rock, our Redeemer and our Refuge – always. Amen.

— written by Joan Stott, and posted on the Geelong City Parish UCA website. If used in shared worship, please provide an acknowledgement as follows: © 2012 Joan Stott – "The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year B, used with permission.

For more worship resources for the Epiphany season, click on Epiphany, or Epiphany 1 B, 2 B, etc. in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more prayer resources on this blog, see the Scriptural Prayer Index at the upper right.