Fourth Sunday after Trinity

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FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Sunday, July 14, 2019

Readings:
Lesson: 1 Samuel 8:4-22
Psalm: 12
Epistle: Romans 8:18-23
Gospel: Luke 6:36-42

ADORATION
Spirit of comfort and rescue, I praise You because You always help me when I am in trouble. You remind me of honesty when I am surrounded by lies and deceit. You remind me of truth when I am immersed in emptiness and vanity. You remind me of humility when I am attacked by mouths which speak proud and exalted things. Your words—Your thoughts, Your intentions, Your purposes, Your designs—are pure words, tried and purified seven times in the flame of Your Holy Spirit. For the solace of the needy and because of the deep sighing of the poor, You rise up to set at rest, and to intercede with Your own sighs too deep for words.

CONFESSION
Almighty God, our only Ruler and Sovereign, the people of Israel demanded that Samuel give them a king, not because they rejected him, but because they rejected You. You then warned Israel that a king would take away their children, fields, money, servants and flocks for his own selfish purposes. I confess that I reject you as my King when I purpose to do things my way, and not Yours. When I allow my ego to rule, he takes away my very best, my creativity, resources, power, faculties and talents, twisting these to serve himself and not You. I cry out because of the king I have chosen for myself, and I acknowledge my need for a Savior.

THANKSGIVING
Father, I thank You that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us—in me. Because You are good, suffering is temporary, but glory is everlasting. You deliver me from the bondage of corruption and bring me into Your glorious liberty. You reveal Yourself in me, through me, and as me. If I groan in pain now, I bless You because this teaches me to hope. If I weep now, I thank You that joy comes in the morning. If I cannot see clearly now, I thank You for manifesting me as Your beloved child. Even now, I have the first-fruits of the Spirit, the promise of redemption of my spirit, soul, and body.

SUPPLICATION
Lord Jesus Christ, You ask me not to judge but to forgive. Help me not to pass judgement on others, but rather to be quick to forgive others and myself. Help me to remember that forgiveness is release, to let go of the burdens of fear, hatred, anger, and bitterness, all of which are too heavy to bear. Help me also to remember that forgiveness is not reconciliation, and that when separation must happen, it must be done in respect, and not by yanking out the speck in anyone else’s eyes. I ask You to cast out the beam that is in my eye so that I can more clearly see where I exalt myself above others. All of us are Your children, and so I am not superior to anyone.

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