Pastoral Prayer - Psalm 8

Pastoral Prayer —

Psalm 8

Psalm 8:1–9 HCSB

1 Yahweh, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth! You have covered the heavens with Your majesty. 2 Because of Your adversaries, You have established a stronghold from the mouths of children and nursing infants to silence the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I observe Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set in place, 4 what is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him? 5 You made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him lord over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet: 7 all the sheep and oxen, as well as the animals in the wild, 8 the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea that pass through the currents of the seas. 9 Yahweh, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!

# 164 in your hymnals —

Our great heavenly Father, blessed Son, and eternal Spirit,

We come to worship You — God in three Persons, one in essence, perfect in every way, the only true God.

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for Your redemption purposed in Your heavenly council and completed for us in Christ the Son, and applied to us by the Holy Spirit. We were so underserving, but You by Your amazing grace welcomed us into Your everlasting kingdom to be partakers of Your unspeakable glory.

When we think of this it causes us to think with the Psalmist — what is man that You remember him?

You are indeed magnificent! You are full of grace. You sent Your Son to redeem us. And You poured out Your love through Your Holy Spirit who You gave to us.

Lord Jesus, though You existed eternally in the form of God, You did not consider it equality with God as something to be used for Your own advantage. Instead You emptied Yourself and assumed the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. You humbled Yourself and became obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross. You became sin though You knew no sin that we might become the righteousness of God in You.

Holy Spirit, You have loved us everlastingly, and made Your abode in us, letting Your life and power flow through us, producing abundant fruit and conforming us into the image of Christ.

O God — one God, yet three Persons — we praise You and thank You for mercy underserved and grace beyond measure —

Your lovingkindness is inexhaustible,

Your mercies endure forever;

Your faithfulness extends to all generations;

Your glory is seen in all Your creation;

and Your steadfast love is our song.

Lord, we come in prayer to You to bring You our praise. Humble us. Strengthen us. Set our lives in order. Renew our commitment to love and obedience, usefulness and faithfulness. Be honored through our lives, we pray, In Jesus glorious name. Amen.