Tomorrow is the Fourth Sunday of Lent. It's called Laetare Sunday because the entrance verse in the missal calls us to rejoice (laetare in Latin). We rejoice that we are half-way through Lent on our path to Easter joy! Our prayer tonight grapples with the joy we long for, joy we've known, joy we pine for and joy we pray for...
Give me back the joy of your salvation...
How did I lose the joy of my salvation?
Where did it go?
I can't believe you'd take my joy away, Lord
- so what did I do with it?
Are there times, Lord,
when my sins tempt me to think
I'm lost to you forever?
Do I fear I've strayed
beyond your everlasting reach?
Are there times, Lord,
when I prefer sorrow to joy,
clutching the sadness of self-pity,
nursing grudges and resentments...
Are there times, Lord,
when I forget the joy of your grace,
when my heart hungers for lesser things?
Are there times when I trade the joy of my faith
for passing pleasures that satisfy easily
but quickly fade away?
Have I not yet learned, Lord,
that the real joy of my life,
the greatest joy of my heart,
the only joy that lasts
is the joy I find in you
and in your gracious love?
I'm grateful, Lord,
that such a large measure of my joy
rests in your Spirit's desire
to reconcile me to your grace,
to restore my soul to serenity, to peace,
to the joy, the deepest joy,
that's found in you alone...
Have mercy on me, O God, in your kindness,
in the greatness of your compassion
cleanse me of my sins and wash away my guilt.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
give back to me the joy of your salvation
and put a steadfast spirit in my soul...
- Psalm 51
Protect me, Lord, while I lie awake
and watch over me when I sleep
that awake, I might keep joyful watch for you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
Tonight's song is new to me but a perfect match for prayer above...
Restore Me to the Joy of Your Salvation
by Still Waters
If a video doesn't appear below, click here!
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