I recently found this prayer tucked into an old prayer book on my shelf. I wrote it in the fall of 2018 for a worship service at College Park UB Church where I was serving on pastoral staff. This is a responsive reading, where the liturgist prays the first 4 lines of each stanza as the call and the fifth line (indicated in capital letters) is the congregational response.
Sovereign Spirit, we ask you to come.
Melt ice-encrusted shells surrounding needy hearts.
Remove the veils from our minds and the scales from our eyes.
Bring conviction and guidance that we need in our lives.
COME, HOLY SPIRIT.
Sovereign Spirit, to You we run.
Knowing we need your touch for all we are to become.
Shape us and mold us in deep inner places.
Revolutionize our lives by Your wisdom and grace.
COME, HOLY SPIRIT.
Spirit of wisdom, we need insight from You.
Open the eyes of our hearts to all truth.
Powerful Spirit of revelation,
As we read your word bring illumination.
COME, HOLY SPIRIT.
Spirit of comfort, we love You so much.
For broken areas of our lives, we ask for Your touch.
There is much in our lives that alone we can’t handle.
By your presence enlighten our hearts like a radiant candle.
COME, HOLY SPIRIT.
Holy Spirit good, Holy Spirit love,
Remind us of the beauty of our Father above.
Holy Spirit strong, Holy Spirit pure,
Empower us, that in all things we may faithfully endure.
COME, HOLY SPIRIT.
Spirit, remind us that death and evil have lost
Because of the power of Jesus Christ’s cross!
Spirit, remind us of all we have gained
By the work of our Savior and the authority of His name!
COME, HOLY SPIRIT.
Spirit of Jesus, who within us abides,
Continue to shape us with the mind of Christ.
Spirit of God, who within us resides,
We give You control as the King of our lives.
COME, HOLY SPIRIT.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
AMEN.