Come Gracious Spirit, Heavenly Dove, ELW 404 and LBW 475
1 Come, gracious Spirit, heav'nly dove,
with light and comfort from above.
Come, be our guardian and our guide;
o'er ev'ry thought and step preside.
2 The light of truth to us display
and make us know and choose your way;
plant holy fear in ev'ry heart,
that we from God may ne'er depart.
3 Lead us to Christ, the living way,
nor let us from his pastures stray.
Lead us in holiness, the road
that we must take to dwell with God.
4 Lead us to heav'n, that we may share
fullness of joy forever there;
lead us to our eternal rest,
to be with God forever blest.
Devotion
Life can often seem lonely. Isolated in individual pursuits, we can be left with a sense of lost-ness that leaves us uninspired. But into our separation Jesus speaks a word of promise. Jesus tells us, "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you” (John 14:18). We do not need to be alone, not now, not ever.
Jesus told us, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17a). As worshipers of the Triune God, we have been given the Holy Spirit – our Advocate, our Comforter. The presence of the Lord is with us to inspire us, to change us, to make us holy.
Prayer
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thank you for your presence with us. Thank you for creating us, coming to us, being with us. Thank you that you never abandon us or leave us as orphans. Thank you for working in us to integrate us into your blessed joy and presence forever. Amen.