Lord of Hosts, your power knows no limits. Your strength secures complete victories. We praise you that your energies enliven our hearts and animate our hands.

The analysts believe Spain's voters capitulated to intimidation and sought to appease terrorists by giving victory to the Socialist candidate for president. Fears sprout that this will only encourage more attacks.

Spiritually, O heavenly Father, we know this to be true. Give us courage to face Satan's onslaughts, to resist departures from the faith, to continue preaching in the face of opposition. Make us "act like men" to be strong, to enter the fray in full armor, to refuse to flinch when all appears lost.

For we know that all has already been won on the Cross, that you have dealt evil the death blow and handed your people certain victory. So we will not appease, will not falter, will not fail, for we know yours is the kingdom. Amen.

O God, you know every human heart. Your eye sees all that happens.

O. J. Simpson was acquitted; Martha Stewart was convicted. We confess that we do not know who is innocent or guilty in earthly matters. We were not there, did not witness misdeeds, did not hear court evidence presented. So keep us from speaking hastily or from judging them or others like them.

We do know, O Lord, that every soul stands guilty under your holy questioning. And that you have provided a pardon for all who will convert to Jesus. Let us speak of what we know: salvation in Christ. Amen.

Heavenly Father, you have wooed us with kindly words, and won us with the sacrifice of your Son. You have shown us our sin and draped us with your holiness. Always, a word to cheer and urge us toward your righteousness.

We praise you, O God, for many other words and acts to hearten us through your people and our friends. Today is lighter because you used someone close to spur us on through whispers of courage and visions of power.

May our own tongues offer mercy, comfort, and lovingkindness. Put love on our lips and faith on our faces to pass forward what we have richly received from your hand. Through our Savior, Amen.

Holy, holy, holy are you, O Lord, above all creation! Who are we to come before you? What words of praise and honor are sufficient to your glory?

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth. May we raise our heads to see your majesty hanging from every tree, gliding with every cloud, touching every human brow.

Father of lights, we desire to deliver up every part of ourselves to you, to know ourselves truly, to unearth those secret sins hidden from us. For this, may we know you more deeply, walk in your ways, delight in your word. Show us in ourselves that undiscovered country by giving us glimpses of your glory. For by seeing you we shall know ourselves.

As you turn over the unplowed earth of our souls, inject us with reserves of strength, and stocks of joy, and wells of peace.

Holy, holy, holy are you, O Lord, above all the earth. We your people praise and glorify your name, by the merits of your Son and our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father in Heaven, your name is holy and sovereign, above every name that can be pronounced upon the earth. In the name of Jesus you have placed salvation and every good thing, that at his name every knee should bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord.

How blessed are we to be the center of your attention! So let us content ourselves with your approval, instead of playing up to others for their compliments or fishing for the praise of men. May we act today knowing that you see us and will give us our proper reward. How that frees us from doing our righteousness to be seen of others!

To be seen of you, what a privilege! Common folk who never appear as a blip on the radar of the Important People -- we have the eye and smile of the Creator upon us. Because Jesus has come down to us, Amen.