Psalm 146:1-10
1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortals, in whom there is no help.
4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.
5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD!
Prayer:
You are invited to fill in the blanks with whatever words come to you today, and use this prayer as the Holy Spirit guides you to lift up your needs and the needs of others into God’s great heart.
{Take 3 deep breaths in and out, asking God to center you in God’s Presence.}
God of grace and mercy, set those imprisoned by ___________________ free.
Holy One, set me free.
God of grace and mercy, open the eyes of those blinded by ____________________.
Holy One, open my eyes so that I can see You.
God of grace and mercy, lift up those who are bowed down by _____________________.
Holy One, lift off that which burdens me and help me stand.
God of grace and mercy, uphold the orphan, the widow and _______________________ whose strength is gone.
Holy One, give me Your strength.
Enfold all your people in your tender grace and mercy, and help them find hope.
Holy One, enfold me in your love and care, and help me to find hope in You.
In Christ’s name I – we – pray, Amen.
Written by Rev. Gini Norris-Lane, Executive Director of the UKirk Collegiate Ministries Association.
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