19 January, 2024
“Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your untilled ground. It is time to seek the Lord until He comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain.” Hosea 10:12
Almighty Creator, Maker of us all, you are Merciful and have been forgiving us our sins since the beginning of the world. Father, you have always been watchful of your errant children and have maintained your promises given to us, even when we have fallen away from you in forgetfulness and ungratefulness and have, with pride and arrogance, defied your Being and disregarded your commandments.
Gracious Lord, our apathy towards others, our lawlessness, unrighteousness and appalling disrespect for the Author of our lives, has been so great, that you have been forced, in your wrath, to bring punishment to nations in various forms, for them to acknowledge their Lord and Maker and seek you with fervent and repentant hearts. Man has, through his own folly, wreaked havoc on himself, by disobeying his God. Your repeated warnings were ignored by a demeaning and unfaithful creation.
Lord, teach us humility and obedience, for we are parched with hunger for your love and Presence in our lives. Restore our caring and compassionate nature, to grow in faith, hope and charity towards all. Fill our hapless and empty lives with the enriching Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Teach us to sow good seed so that we may reap bountiful harvests, the fruits of our labor, and may we be consumed with the need for you, to find you and earn the richness of your grace in our Lord Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen