Saving Grace

In our pastoral care work, Pastor Randy and I hear a word that people use

over and over and over to describe himself or herself. That word is

"unworthy." Men and women who come from childhood homes or have lived

 lives that robbed them of their dignity and value as human beings and as

 precious children of God-who-is-love, are truly broken people. The wound

 and break is at the deepest core of being. Grace is the only curative.

I found a prayer this week that addresses this deep need. I hope you will use

 it over and over and over again as a bottomless well of grace out of which

 pours God’s healing mercies into your deepest hurts.

Be blessed,

Mark Whitley

 

Feeling Unworthy

Father, we confess that we have often felt as Moses must have felt

when he experienced your holy presence.

We confess that we are aware of moments of feeling utterly unworthy

of you and your grace.

We confess that we have often known times when we have

been ashamed and afraid of your coming too close to us.

We confess that we feel unclean whenever you are near

and that we feel utterly inadequate to do justice to your glory.

We confess the mess we have made and continue to make of our lives.

We confess that though we call ourselves Christians and have opened our

 lives to Christ and have been filled with the Holy Spirit,

We often feel that we are not greatly different from those

who do not know you at all.

Lord, touch us, hold us, cleanse us, forgive us, and renew us.

And do it for your glory. Amen

                  

                                       (Let Us Pray – 120 Prayers for All Occasions, David Clowes. Honor Books: 2006, p 50)

 

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