Wednesday Morning Devotion

Psalm 119:9-16

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way *

 even by ruling himself after thy word.

  With my whole heart have I sought thee *

 O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments.

  Thy words have I hid within my heart *

 that I should not sin against thee.

  Blessed art thou, O Lord *

 O teach me thy statutes.

  With my lips have I been telling *

 of all the judgements of thy mouth.

  I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies *

 as in all manner of riches.

  I will talk of thy commandments *

 and have respect unto thy ways.

  My delight shall be in thy statutes *

 and I will not forget thy word.

(Translation: Coverdale)

A Reading

(Jeremiah 37:3-12)

And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the Lord our God for us.

Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into prison.

Then Pharaoh’s army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.

Then came the word of the Lord unto the prophet Jeremiah saying,

Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.

And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.

Thus saith the Lord; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.

For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.

And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army,

Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself thence in the midst of the people.

(Translation: Authorized Version)

A period of silence may follow.

Canticle

Surge, illuminare 

Isaiah 60:1-3, 11a, 14c, 18-19

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, *
    and the glory O1 the Lord is risen upon thee.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, *
    and gross darkness the people:
But the Lord shall arise upon thee, *
    and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, *
    and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Therelore thy gates shall be open continually; *
    they shall not be shut day nor night.
They shall call thee, The city of the Lord, *
    The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, *
    wasting nor destruction within thy borders;
But thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, *
    and thy gates Praise.
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; *
    neither for brightness shall the moon
    give light unto thee:
But the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, *
    and thy God thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
    and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
    world without end. Amen.

(Source: Anglican Service Book)

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

    maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;

    who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

    born of the Virgin Mary,

    suffered under Pontius Pilate,

    was crucified, dead, and buried.

    He descended into hell.

    The third day he rose again from the dead.

    He ascended into heaven,

    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.

    From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost,

    the holy catholic Church,

    the communion of saints,

    the forgiveness of sins,

    the resurrection of the body,

    and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers for Ourselves and Neighbors

Almighty and everliving God, I pray unto Thee for thy Universal Church and all her members, past, present and yet to come:

Silence or add individual intentions here

Christ, the ruler of all the nations, I pray for the health and well-being of my nation and all the nations and leaders of the earth:

Silence or add individual intentions here

God, the Holy Ghost, I pray Thee to be poured out upon all who are sick and suffering in body, mind, or spirit, that Thy healing grace may be infused in them and in myself:

Silence or add individual intentions here

Heavenly Father, I commend unto Thee those who are departed, that they may be judged with magnanimity and see Thy Heavenly Kingdom:

Silence or add individual intentions here

And now, I gather my all prayers in the words Thy Son hath taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

    hallowed be thy Name,

    thy kingdom come,

    thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

    as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

    for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Grace

O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day: Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that we, being ordered by thy governance, may do always what is righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.