Theme: Preparing our hearts for prayer

Psalm 51:1-3, 10-12

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.

V C V C L

Create in Me a Clean Heart

Create in me a clean heart, oh God

And renew a right spirit within me

Create in me a clean heart, oh God

And renew a right spirit within me

Cast me not away from Thy presence, oh Lord,

And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,

And renew a right spirit within me

Norman Johnson
©1979 New Spring. CCLI song# 448647

Psalm 139:1-5, 23-24

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

V1 V2 V3

Cleanse Me (Search Me O God)

Search me, O God, and know my heart today;

Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.

See if there be some wicked way in me;

Cleanse me from every sin and set me free.

I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word, and make me pure within.
Fill me with fire where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire to magnify Thy Name.

Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine.
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord in me abide.

O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival, start the work in me.
Thy Word declares thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.

Words by J. Edwin Orr, 1936. Music: Maori (NZ) tune.
Public domain. CCLI song#

Luke 18:10-14

"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

V1 C V2 C V3 C C

Lord Have Mercy

Jesus, I've forgotten the words that You have spoken

Promises that burned within my heart have now grown dim

With a doubting heart I follow the paths of earthly wisdom

Forgive me for my unbelief; renew the fire again

Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy;

Lord, have mercy on me

Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy;

Lord, have mercy on me

I have built an altar where I worship things of man
I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You
But now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing
Pardon my transgressions; help me love You again

I have longed to know You and all Your tender mercies
Like a river of forgiveness ever flowing without end
So I bow my heart before You in the goodness of Your presence
Your grace forever shining like a beacon in the night

Sanctuary

Lord, prepare me, to be a sanctuary,

Pure and holy, tried and true

And with thanksgiving, I'll be a living,

Sanctuary, for You

VCAC CCLI# 146987