Reach Down, Work Within Our Souls (a prayer)

Join in with this prayer to the sovereign Lord, taken from the worship service at Westminster Church on January 11, 2026.

Almighty Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth:
You are with us, yet you are also above, beyond—
in the sense that you are not subject to the decay that is down here.
You are not threatened by the ups, downs,
earthquakes, tornadoes, avalanches.
This is one of the many reasons we need you so much.
Reach down, work within our souls,
preserve us from every creeping bewitching snare.
Save us from our own bad decisions.
Illuminate our darkness—yet again—even when it was us
who ordinally snuffed out the light.
Forgive us: our wayward thoughts, our neglectful words,
our actions which often seem so far from those of the Master.
Open your arms.
Your smile upon us brings heaven close.
Your voice makes the demons flee.
Your presence makes hope real,
as you stride forth in giant power.
Reach down, work within our souls.
Make us ever-new, hearts yielding to the divine eternal plan,
breathing, speaking, living with endless melodic praise.
These things we pray in the unparalleled name of Jesus,
and together with the words he taught us to pray together, saying:
Our 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 and ever. Amen.