Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 30

A Lenten Collect to Resist Temptation

Lord Jesus, who confronted Satan in the desert, grant us strength and wisdom to resist temptation, that we might not give in to sin or fall into wrong without realizing and so follow in your footsteps, walking according to the will of the Father, though you who now reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit in glory forever and ever. Amen.

'He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.' - Mark 1:13

A Lenten Collect for Willingness to Go into Difficult Places

Spirit of the Lord, source of wisdom and understanding, encourage our hearts in the face of trials and difficulties, that we might be willing to go into difficult places where we might face fears and loneliness and danger, trusting that you are with us and that ultimately, your servants will wait on us as they did our savior, Jesus, through him who showed us the way to the Father and now reigns with him and you in glory forever. Amen.

'And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.' - Mark 1:12-13

A Lenten Collect to Remember Jesus when Tempted

Lord Jesus, who took on our frame that you might share our joys and struggles, call us to remember when we are tempted your temptations in the wilderness, that as we recall your steadfastness in the face of the accuser, we might remain strong in our resistance to sin, through you who lives and reigns forever with the Father and Holy Spirit in heaven. Amen.

'He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.' - Mark 1:13

A Lenten Collect to Become Used to the Wilderness

Lord Jesus, who was tested and refined in the desert, help us to become accustomed to wildernesses and deserts as you were, that we might find places of testing and stripping to be ones where we might grow strong and more capable of fulfilling the will of the Father from moment to moment, through you who endured great hardship for our sake and now reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit in glory forever. Amen.

'And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.' - Mark 1:12

A Lenten Collect to Hear the Spirit's Promptings

Spirit of God, who knows what we need and whispers it to our hearts, make us attentive to your promptings, that we would recognize when you move us and could follow your wisdom leading us both for our good and the good of those around us, through Jesus Christ our Savior, who showed us the way to the Father and sent you to us to continue his ministry on earth while he reigns in heaven. Amen.

'And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.' - Mark 1:12

A Lenten Collect Seeking God's Pleasure in Us

Loving Father, who desires good for all your children, be pleased with us as we seek to follow in your ways, that as we obey your commands and do as your beloved son did on earth, we would be not only cleansed from all that entangles us, but experience the joy of your Holy Spirit within, through Christ our Lord, who lives with you and the Spirit in a trinity of love and joy forever. Amen.

'In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."' - Mark 1:9-11

A Lenten Collect to Do Good in Secret

Almighty God, who does immeasurable good for us that we do not see, teach us to become content with not being lauded for our goodness, that we might do what is right and loving for the sake of others and for the sake of the good it does in the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who sacrificed his life for all our sakes and now reigns in perpetual light at your right hand in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.' - Matthew 6:3-4

A Lenten Collect for Unentangled Motives

Father in heaven, who knows the thoughts and intentions of all our hearts, open our eyes to see how we are seeking the esteem and approval of others, that we would be able to ground ourselves in your love and the love of caring others and be free to do all things with generous and unentangled hearts, through Jesus Christ our example, who gave of himself freely for our sake and was exalted to the highest place at your side in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.' - Matthew 6:1

A Collect to See Clearly the Gospel

Holy Spirit, our counselor and source of all wisdom and insight, keep us from misunderstanding or failing to see the truth of the gospel, that we might see clearly the good news that Jesus came to offer and show to us children and would rejoice in the hope that God brings, through Christ Jesus our savior, who loved us to the end and now reigns with you in the Father in unending light. Amen.

'In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.' - 2 Cor. 4:4

A Collect to Understand Fully the Good News

Lord Jesus, who proclaimed the gospel to your chosen people on earth, open our minds to truly understand the good news, that we would understand what you are trying to tell us, the full measure of what the Father is offering to us and also the call and responsibilities that it lays before us, through you who lives and reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit in glory, one God, now and forever. Amen.

'And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.' - 2 Cor. 4:3