Lord, hear our prayer:
Forgive us, Father, that though we possess the Bible, we rarely read it. Forgive us that though we read it, we rarely think about what you have told us. Forgive us that even when we have pondered your word we rarely put what you have said into practice. Father, forgive us that we resist your will and word for us, the challenge to love our neighbor as ourselves, the call to speak a word of hope and comfort, the commission to speak against evil and to call others to follow Christ. Awaken us again to find delight in reading your word, pondering its meaning for today and allowing the Spirit to bring the word that heals and restores to our lost and hurting world. Through Christ, the Word of God.
Amen.