Do you ever borrow a prayer? Jesus did. On the cross He “borrowed” a prayer of David (Psalm 22) and used it as His own. He taught us to borrow a prayer He gave us to use every day (“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name . . . , Matthew 6). I keep The Book of Common Prayer by my bed and sometimes borrow a prayer and make it my own. Here was one from last night:
“Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of All.
“He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.”
