A Prayer of Repentance

O Lord, help us to turn and seek you; for you have not forsaken your creatures as we have forsaken you, our Creator. Let us turn and seek you, for we know you are here in our heart when we confess to you, when we cast ourselves upon you and weep in your bosom after all our rugged ways; and you gently wipe away our tears, and we weep more for joy; for you, Lord, who made us, do remake and comfort us.

-Saint Augustine (354-430)

God Accepts Genuine Worship

When Phinehas the priest and the high officials heard this from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they were satisfied. Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, replied to them, "Today we know the Lord is among us because you have not sinned against the Lord as we thought. Instead, you have rescued Israel from being destroyed by the Lord." (Joshua 22:30-31)(NLT)

Israel's three tribes that lived east of the Jordan river built an altar at the edge of the Promised Land, just west of the river. This altar was not intended to separate the tribes but rather to bear witness that all the tribes served the same God. Still, there was misunderstanding. So it is today. Sometimes misunderstandings over worship practices can cause God's people to become divided. Even when the Lord is genuinely worshiped by several groups, disputes can flare up. Let us follow Israel's wise example and recognize that the Lord accepts genuine worship from his people even though it may be different from other believers' worship.

O GOD, you delight in all who worship you with pure hearts. We confess that many times we have allowed differing styles of worship to divide your church. Purify our heart so that we might offer worship that pleases you. We thank you for the diversity of your people, which opens our eyes to a greater vision of you. Amen.

(from the Praise and Worship Study Bible)

A Prayer for a Steadfast Heart

Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downward; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Captain of Our Souls

One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. (Luke 8:22-24)(NIV84)

"What a blessed thing it is to have Him with us on our voyage across life's sea! There is, however, something even more blessed. It seems to me that the disciples said as it were: "Here is where we can do without His help....We certainly know more about seafaring than He does...so we'll just fix a nice, comfortable spot, here at the stern of the boat, and let Him have a much needed sleep." And so they did. They were having Him with them alright, but only as a passenger. They had yet to learn that He must be the Captain..."All went well with the disciples, and they got on splendidly without Him while the sea was smooth...That is why God sent the storm. ...The storm drove the disciples to Him" (Van Ryn).

Out of the night that covered me

Freed from the fear of sin's dark scroll;

I thank my Savior, for 'twas He

Rescued for aye my precious soul.

Caught in the storms of circumstance,

I oft have winced and cried aloud,

Yet e'er His mighty, loving hands,

Have calmed the soul before Him bowed.

Amid life's sea of bitter tears,

His words of hope, like beacons, stand;

And how His love my being cheers,

As on I sail to Glory-land;

It matters not how soon the end,

My bark will safely reach its goal.

Christ is my Pilot, Master, Friend,

He is the Captain of my soul!

(devotional by Dr. J. Howard Goddard)