Wednesday, February 13, 2013

A Prayer for Ash Wednesday

Merciful God,
I confess that I am not you
(although I sometimes try to be).

Merciful God,
I confess that sometimes I forget
that I am made in your image.

Merciful God,
I confess that I am full of compromises
(Or maybe, I'm just full of it),
when I could, instead, be full of you.

Merciful God,
You know what it is I need.
You know what it is I hide from myself,
and what it is I try to hide from you.

In this 40 days of Lent,
remind me that life is
dust and ashes and glory,
mingled together.

Great Creator,
Lord and Savior,
Spirit of the Living God,

Draw me up from the dust,
Out from the places of death,
And ever closer to you.

Amen.