Tidy up...

Your divine presence startles us, and makes us more than a little uncomfortable. Like the preacher coming to dinner, we think we should tidy up, and hide away all our bad habits and the messes we've made in our life. But you drop in unexpectedly, when we are at our worst, and when we need you the most. You already know the deep, dark secrets of our hearts, help us to stop trying to hide from you. You have seen us at our worst, and still you love us without ceasing.

Break open the hold of sin on our lives, pierce through the darkness of which we are most ashamed. Forgive us for the sins that are keeping us apart from you. Forgive us for the sins that cause us to hold back, to resist your offer of life-changing grace. Show us what we have locked away in our hearts, because we can not admit to ourselves that we need forgiveness, that we need you, that we can not go it on our own. You know us better than we know ourselves. Take control of our lives, and gently guide us in the way you want us to go.

We pray for Rickie Mathews, who entrusts his mother to your care but still misses her dearly. Help him through the sadness of this time, and support his entire family in their loss. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.