A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 3/21

As Lent draws near its end I pray:

create in me a clean heart,
a new heart, my God...

Your mercy's still a mystery, Lord:

how you love me even in my sins,
how you never fail to find the good in me
to find something in me to love...

Create in me a clean heart,
a new heart, O God...

Your mercy's a mystery, Lord:
how you never cease to reach out, gently,
to keep me from my selfish ways,
to bring me home to your embrace,
to mend my brokenness,
to heal what's sick within my soul,
to forgive what's sinful in my heart...

Create in me a clean heart,
a new heart, O God...

Your mercy's a mystery, Lord,
and though I don't understand it
I'm ever grateful for its depths
and how you never fail to offer me
its sweet and saving power...

Create in me a clean heart,

a new heart, O God...

I come to you, Lord

with the heart I sometimes try to hide

When I've marred your image

Mirrored in my soul...

Create in me a clean heart,
a new heart, O God...

So great is your love for me,
so exquisite the delight you take in me,
that even when I forget,
when I tarnish,
when I deny your beauty within me,
you call me back to grace
and offer me your pardon...

Create in me a clean heart,
a new heart, O God...

Help me remember that you meet me
just where I need you:
where I'm rough-edged, you come to smooth me;
   where I'm broken, you come to mend me;
   where I'm weak, you come to strengthen me;
   where I'm sick, you come to heal me;
   where I've sinned, you come to pardon me...

Create in me a clean heart,
a new heart, O God...

Forgive me my sins, Lord,
and nurture all that's good in me;
be gentle in receiving what I offer you:
a fragile, broken, contrite heart...

Help me pardon all who've hurt me, Lord,
and find in them the good you see
and love in them what you so love:
let me gently welcome all
into my broken contrite heart...

Your mercy's still a mystery, Lord,
and it is, I know, the greatest gift you offer me...

Create in me a clean heart,

a new heart, O God...

In the quiet of my prayer, Lord,
as Lent draws to its close,

help me see where I need pardon;

help me confess my sins and failings;

help me humbly open up my heart

to the mystery of your mercy
and the healing that it brings...

Create in me a clean heart,
a new heart, O God...