Day of Repentance, February 14, 2024

I invite you to join me in a Day of Repentance on Ash Wednesday, February 14. Will you approach the throne of grace in prayer personally? Will you bring your prayers of repentance to our loving God on behalf of the church? Will you let the trials of this broken world become a prayerful pathway to renewed faith and fresh proclamation of the saving Good News? People need what we have received. Please join me in asking God to renew our hearts and minds with faith and to create in us a firm resolve to share His gifts with all people.

Rev. Michael W. Newman, President
Texas District, LCMS

Resources

Scripture Readings

Joel 2:12-19

Psalm 51:1-17

1 John 1:5 – 2:2

Matthew 6:16-21

Individual Confession and Absolution, Lutheran Service Book (LSB) pages 292-293

Prayers

Almighty God, grant to Your Church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down from above, that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people, that in steadfast faith we may serve You and, in the confession of Your name, abide unto the end.
(For the Church, LSB, 305)

Almighty God, You have called Your Church to witness that in Christ You have reconciled us to Yourself. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may proclaim the good news of Your salvation so that all who hear it may receive the gift of salvation.
(For the mission of the Church, LSB, 305)

O holy and most merciful God, You have taught us the way of Your commandments. We implore You to pour out Your grace into our hearts. Cause it to bear fruit in us that, being ever mindful of Your mercies and Your laws, we may always be directed to Your will and daily increase in love toward You and one another. Enable us to resist all evil and to live a godly life. Help us to follow the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to walk in His steps until we shall possess the kingdom that has been prepared for us in heaven.
(For obedience to the Word, LSB, 308)

O Lord, our God, we acknowledge Your great goodness toward us and praise You for the mercy and grace that our eyes have seen, our ears have heard, and our hearts have known. We sincerely repent of the sins of this day and those in the past. Pardon our offenses, correct and reform what is lacking in us, and help us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Inscribe Your laws upon our hearts, and equip us to serve You with holy and blameless lives. May each day remind us of the coming of the night when no one can work. In the emptiness of this present age keep us united by a living faith through the power of Your Holy Spirit with Him who is the resurrection and the life, that we may escape the eternal bitter pains of condemnation.
(For pardon, growth in grace and divine protection, LSB, 309)

God of love, through your Son You have commanded us to love one another. By the guidance of Your Word and Spirit, deliver us from impenitence and teach us the truth that we might confess our sins, receive Your forgiveness, and be reconciled to one another.
(For reconciliation, LSB, 312)

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name.
(For purity, LSB, 312)

O God, You resist the proud and give grace to the humble. Grant us true humility after the likeness of Your only Son that we may never be arrogant and prideful and thus provoke Your wrath but in all lowliness be made partakers of the gifts of Your grace.
(For humility, LSB, 312)

We pray You, O Lord, to keep our tongues from evil and our lips from speaking deceit, that as Your holy angels continuously sing praises to You in heaven, so we may at all times glorify You on earth.
(For control of the tongue, LSB, 312).

Almighty, everlasting God, Your Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death. Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ may increase daily and that we may hold fast to the hope that on the Last Day, we shall be raised in glory to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(Hope of eternal life in Christ, LSB, 313)