loving presence!
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24. Mediator: The universe and all that is in it belong to El Shaddai, as do the earth, and all who live on it. She built it on the deep waters, beneath the earth, and laid its foundations in the ocean depths. Who has the right to go up Her holy hill? Who may enter into Her presence? Those who seek to be pure in act and in thought, who do not worship gods of their own making, or make false promises. El Shaddai will bless the faithful and save them. She will declare them innocent. Such are the people who come to God, who come into the presence of the God of our ancestors. Swing wide the mighty gate, open the ancient door of your soul, and the Sovereign One will enter. Who is She? She is mighty in Her caring and humble in Her power. Open the tightly closed door of Your soul, mind, and strength. Who is El Shaddai? The One who is triumphant in Her gentleness!
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25. Mortal: O God, I open my heart to You. In Your love, I put all my trust. Do not let me be mocked. Do not let my adversaries triumph over me. Vindicate the confidence of all those who wait for You, but shame those who deceive others without reason. Teach me Your ways, O God, so I can live according to Your truth, for You are my God, who saves me. I will always trust You. I remember Your kindness and constant love, which You have shown from long ago. I confess the sins of my younger years, and in Your constant love and goodness, ask for Your mercy.
Mediator: Because El Shaddai is righteous and good, She teaches sinners the path they should follow. She leads the humble in the faithful ways and teaches them Her will. With faithfulness and love, She leads all who keep Her Covenant and obey Her commands.
Mortal: Forgive my sins, in Your love for me. My sins are many. They are . . .
Mediator: Those who obey El Shaddai will learn from Her the path they should follow. They will always have enough, and their children will inherit the blessing. She is the friend of those who obey Her, and She affirms Her Covenant with them.
Mortal: I look to El Shaddai for help at all times, and She rescues me from danger. Turn to me, O God, and be merciful to me, because I am lonely and weak. Relieve me of my worries, and save me from all my troubles. Consider my distress and suffering, and forgive all my sins. See all my troubles and how much they bear down on me. Protect me and save me. Keep me from disaster. I seek You for safety. May what I have done in goodness and honesty preserve me, because I trust in You, O God. And from all their troubles, O God, save all Your precious people.
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26. Mortal: Dear God, judge me innocent because I do what is good and trust You completely. Examine me and test me, Divine Lover. Judge my desires and thoughts. Your constant love is my guide. Your faithfulness always leads me. I do not keep company with worthless people. I have nothing to do with those who say one thing and do another. I hate the company of those who are schemers, abusers, and the corrupt. O God, look upon my clean hands as a sign of my innocence, as I approach Your altar in worship, singing a hymn of thanksgiving and telling others of all Your wonderful deeds. I love being present in Your Holy Place, where I sense Your glory. Do not destroy me with those who betray Your love. Spare me from those who harass the lives of others, those who oppress the poor and are always ready to take bribes. I maintain that I do what is good. Be merciful to me and save me! Then I can be safe from all dangers. Then in the assembly of Your people I will praise You, merciful God.
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27. Mortal: The Sovereign God is my light and my salvation. I will fear no one. El Shaddai protects me from all danger. I will never be afraid. When unjust people attack me, and others devour me with slander, they will stumble and fall. Though they surround me I will not be afraid. I will always trust God. In my prayers, I pray that I may live close to El Shaddai’s presence all of my life, and to ask for Her guidance. In times of trouble, She will shelter me, keeping me safe in Her home. She will set me firmly upon the rock of Her purposes, so that I cannot be shaken. I will always be filled with the joy of Her presence and sing praises to El Shaddai! I am grateful that She answers me in prayer. When She calls me to worship, I enter into worship, joyfully knowing that my Savior does not abandon me. She has heard my prayers, “Don’t be angry with me! Don’t turn Your servant away! Don’t leave or abandon me, my Helper. My mother and father abandoned me, but You will take care of me. Teach me, El Shaddai, what You want me to do, and lead me along a safe pathway. Don’t abandon me to my enemies, within and around me. I know that I will live to see Your goodness in my lifetime.”
Mediator: Trust in God. Have faith; do not despair. Trust in El Shaddai.
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28. Mortal: When I call to You, O God my Strength, do not turn away from my plea! If Your response is only silence, I will be completely devastated. Hear me when I cry to You for help, when I raise my hands to You on high. Do not condemn me with the wicked; with those who look out only for themselves and trample on the unfortunate; who are hardhearted toward the lowly and outcast. Punish them for what they do; for their arrogant ways. Give them the punishment they deserve. They completely disregard what You are doing in life. So I am praising You, for You have heard my cry for help. You, O God, protect and defend me. I trust in You. You give me help and make me glad. I praise You with joyful songs.
Mediator: El Shaddai protects Her people. She defends those who are called to lead others. She saves and blesses those who are precious and valuable, taking care of them forever!
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29. Mediator: The heavenly beings and all angels praise God’s glory and power, bowing down before the Holy One’s presence. The Word of El Shaddai is heard on the waters, like thunder; Her Word reverberates in might and majesty. Her power can break mighty trees and make mountains jump like calves or leap like a young bull. The Word of God flashes like lightning, illuminating even the wilderness. The power of God can bend mighty oaks and strip the leaves from their branches. Glory to God, all people! El Shaddai rules over the deep waters. She is Sovereign forever. She gives strength to the people and blesses them with peace.
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30. Mortal: I praise You, El Shaddai, for rescuing, and lifting me up. You healed me when I cried to You for help. You kept me from dying. My life was slipping away, but You brought me back from the edge.
Mediator: Sing praise to El Shaddai, all faithful people. Remember what the Holy One has done and give Her thanks. Her anger lasts only a moment. But Her goodness lasts for a lifetime. Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning.
Mortal: In my security, I feel safe because of El Shaddai’s gentle strength and protection. But when She seems far away, I feel vulnerable and afraid. Then I call out in prayer, “Help me, O God. What will You accomplish by letting me die? If I die, can I praise You? Can I proclaim Your goodness in the grave? Hear me, O God, and be merciful!” And in great mercy I can rejoice that She changed my sadness and fright into a joyful dance. I pray, “You, El Shaddai, have taken away my sorrow and surrounded me with joy. I will sing Praise to You. You have shown me Your mercy. I will give thanks to You, O God!”
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31. Mortal: Sovereign God, when I feel close to disaster, I pray to You for protection. You are a righteous God. Save me, I pray! Hear me! Be my refuge to protect me, my defense to save me. Guide me and lead me as You have promised. Keep me safe from the dangers that await me. I place myself in Your care, trusting in Your saving and faithful power. I will separate myself from those who follow false values. I will reject all the ways society worships the things and values they have created. I will trust only You and rejoice in Your constant love. You know of my suffering and my troubles. You know when I am surrounded. Save me to live free from fear. When I am troubled, O God, my eyes tire from so much crying and I get completely worn out. It is as though my life is shorter because of all my weeping and sorrow. At times, it is like my very bones are wasting away. And around me, it seems as though even my neighbors treat me with contempt. When I am troubled, it is as though my friends are afraid of me. When they see me in the street, it seems like they turn away and run from me. In my deepest troubles, I wonder if I am dead, for people act like they have forgotten me. I feel discarded, with people whispering about me, and everywhere I go, I am afraid. But my trust is in You, Sovereign God. I find comfort knowing that I am always in Your care, saving me from