Praise be to God

Praise be to God,
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
Raise your voice and sing of all His mighty deeds.
For was it was God who brought the Israelites out of Egypt?
Was it not He, who made the Sun and moon stand still?
Was it not God, who continued to save his chosen people,
even as they continually turned their backs on Him.
It was He, who gave them a land of their own,
And He, who took it away because of their sin,
Yet He remembered His promise and brought his people back.
Was it not God, the Father, who sent the Son,
who changed lives and showed them the way?
Was it not the Son, who suffered on the cross?
Yet God did not let death be the end,
and raised his Son on the third day.
Does not God, the Spirit, dwell in our hearts today?
Is it not God who has rescued me from my own sin?
Remember, creation, of what God has done and continues to do
and raise your voice in honor and in praise,
To the Holy one, who has called you by name

Have Mercy

Have mercy, Oh God.
For I continually stray away from you.
I let myself get distracted
and allow my passion for you to dwindle.
I am a sinner and on my own,
I cannot defeat the sin that binds me.
Oh, how I long to be rid of this chain,
yet my will is easily broken with my own cunning.
God, my God,
rescue me from myself,
free me from the chains I wrap around myself.
Restore the brokenness hidden inside me
and help me to be the man,
You, created me to be.

Same Today

Oh God,
Over the ages, the heart's of humans haven't changed.
We are no different from the Israelites of Old.
When they prospered, they turned their back on you,
and followed after other Gods.
Yet, when they suffered, they turned back
and cried out for mercy and deliverance.
How are we any different?
When things are good, we easily turn away
only to come running back when things go wrong.
We let our passion for you dwindle so easily,
by distracting ourselves with worldly idols

Oh God,
I thank you for you never change.
Your steadfast and enduring love
is the same today as it was back then.
Even in your justice, you heard the cries of your people
and saved them from themselves.

God,
Embrace me in your unchanging Love,
so that my human heart can be changed,
to turn from the worldly things,
and seek You and You alone.