Lord God of Eternity and History, you never lose sight of your plan, never forget what you are doing, never get distracted from your purpose. We, on the other hand, have ever shortening attention spans. Television and the Internet have whittled our concentration down from minutes to seconds.

So much the more, Father, we need to fix our eyes on Jesus with a steady gaze, regardless of the distractions, temptations, and threats around us. You have given all things to him, so he has plenty to hold our attention. Amen.

Our Father in Heaven, you have given us Christ as our go-between, to restore us to your fellowship. We are grateful for the new and living way he opened up to us. May we daily wing our flight to you through his mediation as we pray through his name and hear your voice by means of him as the Word.

We are also thankful that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. May we promote restoration of souls to your communion and peace among men and especially among brethren. Help us to see that the truth of the gospel is what brings us together; it is our uniter, not a divider, for those who desire your presence. We pray now through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

[Pertinent passages: 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6; 9:15: 12:24]

Blessed God, you know what lies in the heart, so you do not judge according to appearances. But our eyes deceive us. We think we see, but we are blind to inner thoughts and motives. Cool exteriors hide from us the hurts and cries of our neighbor.

And let us not only see who people are, but what they may become, by the power of your Spirit.

And let us judge with mercy, seeing the good intentions beneath the botched actions or clumsy attempts.

And let neither beauty nor comeliness keep us from recognizing in each person a soul precious in your sight, for whom Christ died. Amen.

God over life and hades, the world shrinks from talking about death. It accuses "religion" of introducing fear into the process of dying, but it is the atheist, the agnostic, the wicked, who so often are afraid to die. Man in general fears facing the unknown, trembles at surrendering breath.

We know, O Lord, that for the faithful, death is gain, to enter into life eternal. This hope superimposes itself on our fears and quiets our spirit. We know that to depart is far better, where no tears, no pain, no suffering mars our brow. We but lay aside this earthly tabernacle to receive a body of the resurrection.

So we thank you, Father, for hope and peace and joy, and for the foretaste in the present, through your Holy Spirit, of what will be ours forever. In the name of him who preceded us into heaven. Amen.

God of all truth, you cannot lie, for you are the very source of righteousness and truth. We believe so many lies, even about our own selves. Open our eyes, Lord, that we may understand what is real and true and reject the falsehoods, half-truths, and distortions of reality that Satan presents to us. He limits us, binds us, renders us ineffective with his lies. Help us to expose his lies by identifying in our own thoughts what belongs to him and is repulsive to you.

Your word is truth, Father; sanctify us, as Jesus so prayed, in your truth, and may we experience its liberating effects through Jesus' mediation. Amen.