As I read the lectionary texts for this coming Sunday, I am struck by a common theme: a need for prayer. Amos calls the people of Israel to pray for repentance. The psalmist offers an intercessory prayer for God to turn his face towards his hurting people. The author of Hebrews invites us to contemplate the humanity of Jesus, who is familiar with everything we go through in this world and invites us to bring it to him in prayer. And then in our gospel reading, while Jesus doesn’t issue a direct call to the rich young man to pray, his invitation is to a life of prayerful surrender that all of us are meant to embrace.
To that end, for this week’s song reflections you are invited to simply read the passage, listen to the song, and pray the lyrics. Each song echoes the theme of the prayer we’re invited to embrace from each passage: repentance, intercession, a cry of our own need, and a surrender of self to God’s purposes.
Lectionary Readings for October 10, 2021
Reading One: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 (NRSV)
Song: Song of Repentance
Offer these lyrics in prayer…
We’ve fallen short
We’ve wandered far from Your ways
Forgive us O Lord
We’ve sinned against Your name
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
This is a song of repentance
This is a plea to Your heart
Would You purify us Lord
Open Your hand to deliver
Reach down in power to save
You are Holy God
God keep us close
Held in Your promise of grace
Come change our hearts
Restore who we are we pray
Now Almighty One
All-consuming love
Lord remember us
Make us holy
For the sake of Christ
We lay down our lives
O now Church arise
For His glory
This is a song of revival
Let holiness flood through this land
Would You purify us Lord
Would You purify us Lord
Reading Two: Psalm 90:12-17 (NRSV)
Song: God of Mercy (Prayer Song)
Offer these lyrics in prayer…
God of mercy, here I cry
Turn Your hand tonight
Bring relief from their pain
Be their comfort
And every day they're given breath
Give them strength to live
And as their weary bodies fail
Fighting is over, flesh gives way
Be their light to guide them home
God of mercy, here I cry
Heal their souls tonight
Give them peace from their fears
Be their hope, Lord
And every day You give them breath
Give them strength to live
And as their weary bodies fail
Fighting is over, flesh gives way
Be their star to guide them home
Sometimes I don't know what to ask for
Sometimes I don't know what to say
But I know that You are watching over them
Sometimes I don't know what to pray for
Sometimes I don't know how to give
But I know that You are watching over them
And their life is not in vain
So God of mercy, here I cry
Turn your hand tonight
Bring relieve from their pain
Be their comfort
And every day they're given breath
Give them strength to live
And as their weary bodies fail
Fighting is over, flesh gives way
Be their light to guide them home
Reading Three: Hebrews 4:12-16 (NRSV)
Song: Lord, I Need You
Offer these lyrics in prayer…
Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You’re the One that guides my heart
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus, you’re my hope and stay
Reading Four: Mark 10:17-31 (NRSV)
Song: The Stand
Offer these lyrics in prayer…
You stood before creation
Eternity in Your hand
And You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand
You stood before my failure
And carried the cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
My soul now to stand
So what could I say?
What could I do?
But offer this heart, ohh God
Completely to You
So I'll walk upon salvation
Your Spirit alive in me
This life to declare Your promise
My soul now to stand
So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, oh God
Completely to You
So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, oh God
Completely to You
So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
So I'll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours (I'll stand)
I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
So I'll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours
Oh Lord, I will stand
So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I'll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours
Oh Lord, I will stand
So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I'll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours
So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I'll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours
So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, Oh God
Completely to You