Ash Wednesday Prayer

Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, we come before you on this day of ashes as those who are about to be transformed. In these days of penitent self-examination we enter a kind of spiritual basic training. Like Moses on Mount Sinai and Jesus in the wilderness, these 40 days will be for us a time of challenge and self discovery. Help us, gracious Lord, to stay the course. We seek to revitalize our calling as responsive followers of your Christ. Let us not be distracted by worry or fear. Awaken us to be engaged fully and completely in the retraining and renewing of our hearts and minds. Let us not be thwarted by weakness or doubt. May our prayerful exercises strengthen our spiritual resolve to love with the heart of Jesus, to shine forth the light of the Christ in us, and to boldly proclaim without pause or embarrassment our faith, confidence and trust in you. Indeed we believe that with you and in you, O God, all things are possible. Hear our penitent prayer we beseech you in the name of the Christ who taught us to pray saying: Our Abba Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us, this day, our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.