Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 82
July 31, 2022
A Collect to Eschew Using God for Our Own Ends
God of justice, whose ways are higher than our ways, keep us from attempting to use you in order to get what we want, to slake our meager desires, that we would honor you foremost, presenting our requests with humility and trusting that your provision would be good and meet our true needs, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who demonstrated your love and ascended to you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
'Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?"' - Luke 12:13-14
July 30, 2022
A Collect for Trust in God's Gifts
Loving Father, who knows our needs better than we know our own, help us to trust the gifts that you give us, that we would receive whatever you offer with gratitude, believing that what you give is for our good and will nourish us is ways that we may not yet understand, through Jesus Christ our Lord who gifted us with his presence and life and returned to you in glory through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
"Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" - Luke 11:11-13
July 29, 2022
A Collect for Provision
Generous God, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, open your hand and satisfy our needs, that we would see your provision and remember your care for us and would be filled with gratitude for your goodness, through Jesus Christ our Lord who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in glory, now and forever. Amen.
"For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." - Luke 11:10
July 28, 2022
A Collect for Boldness in Prayer
Lord Jesus, our friend and mentor, give us boldness as we come to you and as we stand before the throne of the Almighty, that we would present our needs with confidence in your generosity and trust that you will provide for us what we need, through you who reigns in eternity with the Father and Holy Spirit, one Trinity in glory. Amen.
"I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you." - Luke 11:8-9
July 27, 2022
A Collect Asking for Protection from Difficulty
Gracious Jesus, who understands our frailty for you bore it yourself, keep us from temptation and struggle, for we are weak and prone to sin and despair. Be our shield and grant us grateful hearts that we would recognize that you sustain and preserve us and we would rise up in praise of your name, through you whom the winds and waves obey through the power of the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.
"And do not bring us to the time of trial." - Luke 11:4
July 26, 2022
A Collect to Be Ready to Forgive
Generous Father, who is ready to forgive those who turn to you in repentance, give us hearts that are likewise ready to forgive, that when we are wronged, we would resist the urge to nurse our wounds but would let go of the hurt and return good for the evils done to us, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who suffered great evils in order to accomplish a greater good for us all. Amen.
"And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial." - Luke 11:4
July 25, 2022
A Collect for God's Provision
Great King, who possesses all things and in whom there is no need, open your hands and provide for us who are limited and in need of provision and sustenance, that we would recognize that it is your hand that satisfies us and your generosity that sustains us and that we would be ever thankful for all that you do with such kindness and love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
'Give us each day our daily bread.' - Luke 11:3
July 24, 2022
A Collect for God's Name to be Praised by All
Almighty Father, who is worthy of all praise and worship, may the whole earth come to honor your name, that all creation would enter into your kingdom and be filled with the love and wisdom that you offer to each one of us, through Jesus Christ our Lord who opened the way for us to come under your reign and sat down to rule at your right hand in the Holy Spirit. Amen.
'He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come."' - Luke 11:2
July 23, 2022
A Collect to Value People over Law
Lord of Heaven and Earth, who desires good for your children, keep us from taking away what is healthy and nurturing and good from those who desire it, that we would not elevate propriety or culture over people, but would seek to give to others and ourselves what is truly best and nourishing for our souls, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who challenged our man-made laws and opened the way to you through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
"Mary has chosen something good, which will not be taken away from her." - Luke 10:42
July 22, 2022
A Collect to Focus on Only What We Are Called to
God of wisdom, who knows the end from the beginning, teach us to concern ourselves only with what we can and must do, that we would not become overwhelmed with all that cries out for attention, but would focus on what you would have of us, trusting that you will take care of everything else, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who listened to you intently through the Holy Spirit and returned to live with you in glory. Amen.
'But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing."' - Luke 10:41-42
