And the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” 1 Corinthians 14:25
Dear heavenly Father, first of all, I pray today will be a day in which the secrets of my heart will be laid bare before you, confident that you will not deal with me according to my sin, but according to the unsearchable riches of the gospel of your Son, Jesus. Otherwise, I would surely despair. For in the gospel is where I find the extravagance of your heart laid bare—your welcome and provision for rebels, fools and idolaters, just like me.
Indeed, the gospel is the sanctuary where my heart cries the loudest, “God is really among you!” Only the gospel of your grace frees me to fall down and worship you in humility, not humiliation… in gratitude, not groveling… in repentant faith, not uncertain penance… in the assurance of Christ’s righteousness, not the condemnation of my unrighteousness… with God-centered awe, not self-serving anything.
Secondly, Father, I pray the same for our whole church family—especially as we gather each Lord’s Day to worship you, the Lord Jesus and God the Holy Spirit. In a day when there seems to be more gadgets and gimmicks needed to create “worship experiences,” free us needing anything more than the gospel to worship you the way you deserve to be worshipped… and delight to be worshipped. Teach us how to be stewards of technology, not slaves to technology. Teach us how to be creative, not cute… faithful, not manipulative… simple, not spectacular.
Reel us back in anytime we move away from the “simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:1-3) And let us never forget that you are not seeking “great worship,” but true worshippers—those who worship you in spirit and truth (John 4:21-23).
So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus most wonderful and most worthy name.