We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us! It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.
-—Abraham Lincoln
Give ear to my words, O LORD;
give heed to my groaning.
Hearken to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to thee do I pray.
O LORD, in the morning thou dost hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for thee, and watch.
For thou art not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not sojourn with thee.
The boastful may not stand before thy eyes;
thou hatest all evildoers.
Thou destroyest those who speak lies;
the LORD abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men.
But I through the abundance of thy steadfast love
will enter thy house,
I will worship toward thy holy temple in the fear of thee.
Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of my enemies; make thy way straight before me.
For there is no truth in their mouth;
their heart is destruction,
their throat is an open sepulchre,
they flatter with their tongue.
Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of their many transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against thee.
But let all who take refuge in thee rejoice,
let them ever sing for joy;
and do thou defend them,
that those who love thy name may exult in thee.
For thou dost bless the righteous, O LORD;
thou dost cover him with favor as with a shield.
Psalm 5 RSV
Lord, remember our nation.
Look not on the sins of those who would lead us to the pit when you find us lacking,
but on those of us who cry out to thee for help and aid,
who offer our hands to do your work,
who cry out for your strength to fight the foe,
who love your light more than the darkness.
Help us, O Lord, during this time.
Raise up leaders for us,
Open our hearts so we might choose as you want us to choose.
Help us to do your will,
this day and always,
in the peace that comes only from you.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Hear our prayer, O Lord ...
Hear our prayer, O Lord ...
Incline thine ear to us
And grant us thy peace. Amen ...
BTTT