Prayer Offered for February 9, 2017

The Book of Proverbs (4:23) says:  
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything else flows from it.

Creator God,
Give us a heart like Yours that inspires us
   to love without reservation,
   to step out in courageous service to one another,  
   and never to dig up in doubt what we have planted in faith.   

Fortify us with Your grace
   to speak kindly,
   to keep our actions on the upswing,
   and to refuse to allow any discouragement to infiltrate our spirits.  

Let Your light shine through the cracks and splinters of the less-than-perfect portions of our hearts; and may we forgive ourselves our imperfections, and in response, return needed compassionate forgiveness to others.–AMEN.
^{(Prayer of Auburn Mercy Associates, 2017)}