March 21, 2012

Opening Hymn:
Spirit Song (Red 287)

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 51:1-12

Message: Willing Spirit
“Grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Everything the psalmist is praying for, I want for myself and others as well. To be forgiven, washed clean and pure. Finally, the thing that hit me the most during this reading was, to have a “willing spirit.” A spirit that is ready for what God has to offer, and a spirit that won’t back out when the work is too hard, too long, or too trivial in my eyes. That is the spirit I seek.

God offers us joy, forgiveness, purity, and love. He is with us through every challenge we face. However, He made us with free will to make choices. We can choose whether we sin or not. We choose whether we go to work or not. We choose what we eat, read and watch. In that sense we can choose who we are. The biggest choice that we have in this life then, is whose we are.

When we choose to be God’s children and focus our lives on God the “willing spirit” can come into view. When we get distracted and begin to read and watch things that aren’t of God… we become less like God, and our spirit becomes less willing. To be like God and to seek what God seeks requires a relationship with God. Have you ever noticed that when you hang around someone a lot you might start using phrases that they use, or pick up an accent that they have? The same thing is true with God. The longer you spend with God through prayer and through His Word, the more like Him you will become. The more like God we are… the more willing our spirits are to do His will.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, grand us each a “willing spirit” to serve you and our neighbors. Let us spend more time with You so that we can be like you in love and compassion. Thank you for being the perfect example for us. Thank you for Your love, and for sharing with us a relationship. Lord, there is no friend like You! Thank you for always being there, even when we turn away. Bring us back to You now… Give us hearts that are ready to serve and ready to praise. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
When I look into Your Holiness (Red 206)

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God