February 2015 Prayers

Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!Blessed are they whose way is blameless,who walk in the law of the LORD.Blessed are they who observe his decrees,who seek him with all their heart.R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!You have commanded that your preceptsbe diligently kept.Oh, that I might be firm in the waysof keeping your statutes!R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!I will give you thanks with an upright heart,when I have learned your just ordinances.I will keep your statutes;do not utterly forsake me.R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, there is nothing we can do to repay for the gift of salvation. But that should not stop us from rejecting sin and repenting.Grant us we pray, a humble and contrite heart, so that we may be able to serve you better. This we ask in your Holy Name Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dt 26:16-19 Moses spoke to the people, saying:“This day the LORD, your God,commands you to observe these statutes and decrees.Be careful, then,to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.Today you are making this agreement with the LORD:he is to be your God and you are to walk in his waysand observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,and to hearken to his voice.And today the LORD is making this agreement with you:you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you;and provided you keep all his commandments,he will then raise you high in praise and renown and gloryabove all other nations he has made,and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God,as he promised.”

Matthew 5:1-10When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Psalm 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd; * I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures * and leads me beside still waters. 3 He revives my soul * and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake. 4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; * for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; * you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over. 6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, * and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

1 Peter 5:1-4Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it-- not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.

Mt 7:7-12Jesus said to his disciples:“Ask and it will be given to you;seek and you will find;knock and the door will be opened to you.For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stonewhen he asked for a loaf of bread,or a snake when he asked for a fish?If you then, who are wicked,know how to give good gifts to your children,how much more will your heavenly Father give good thingsto those who ask him.“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”

Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8R. (3a) Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,for you have heard the words of my mouth;in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;I will worship at your holy templeand give thanks to your name.R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.Because of your kindness and your truth;for you have made great above all thingsyour name and your promise.When I called, you answered me;you built up strength within me.R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.Your right hand saves me.The LORD will complete what he has done for me;your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;forsake not the work of your hands.R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25 Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,had recourse to the LORD.She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said:“God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,for I am taking my life in my hand.As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathersthat you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you.Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,O LORD, my God.“And now, come to help me, an orphan.Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lionand turn his heart to hatred for our enemy,so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.Save us from the hand of our enemies;turn our mourning into gladnessand our sorrows into wholeness.”

Lk 11:29-32While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,“This generation is an evil generation;it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,so will the Son of Man be to this generation.At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them,because she came from the ends of the earthto hear the wisdom of Solomon,and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generationand condemn it,because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

Jon 3:1-10 The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time:“Set out for the great city of Nineveh,and announce to it the message that I will tell you.”So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,according to the LORD’s bidding.Now Nineveh was an enormously large city;it took three days to go through it.Jonah began his journey through the city,and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing,“Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,”when the people of Nineveh believed God;they proclaimed a fastand all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.When the news reached the king of Nineveh,he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe,covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes.Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh,by decree of the king and his nobles:“Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep,shall taste anything;they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God;every man shall turn from his evil wayand from the violence he has in hand.Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath,so that we shall not perish.”When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way,he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them;he did not carry it out.

PS 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19R. (18b) From all their distress God rescues the just.Glorify the LORD with me,let us together extol his name.I sought the LORD, and he answered meand delivered me from all my fears.R. From all their distress God rescues the just.Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,and your faces may not blush with shame.When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,and from all his distress he saved him.R. From all their distress God rescues the just.The LORD has eyes for the just,and ears for their cry.The LORD confronts the evildoers,to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.R. From all their distress God rescues the just.When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,and from all their distress he rescues them.The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.R. From all their distress God rescues the just.

Matthew 6:7-157 'In your prayers do not babble as the gentiles do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard.8 Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him.9 So you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be held holy,10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.11 Give us today our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.13 And do not put us to the test, but save us from the Evil One.14 'Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours;15 but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.

Is 55:10-11 Thus says the LORD:Just as from the heavensthe rain and snow come downAnd do not return theretill they have watered the earth,making it fertile and fruitful,Giving seed to the one who sowsand bread to the one who eats,So shall my word bethat goes forth from my mouth;It shall not return to me void,but shall do my will,achieving the end for which I sent it.

Matthew 25:31-4631 'When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory.32 All nations will be assembled before him and he will separate people one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats.33 He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.34 Then the King will say to those on his right hand, "Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome,36 lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me."37 Then the upright will say to him in reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?38 When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you?39 When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?"40 And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."41 Then he will say to those on his left hand, "Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42 For I was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink,43 I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me."44 Then it will be their turn to ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking clothes, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?"45 Then he will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me."46 And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the upright to eternal life.'

Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 158The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. 10They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-181Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2“Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.11‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. 12‘You shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the LORD. 13‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning. 14‘You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the LORD. 15‘You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly. 16‘You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the LORD. 17‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. 18‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.

Luke 5:27-3227 When he went out after this, he noticed a tax collector, Levi by name, sitting at the tax office, and said to him, 'Follow me.'28 And leaving everything Levi got up and followed him.29 In his honour Levi held a great reception in his house, and with them at table was a large gathering of tax collectors and others.30 The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples and said, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?'31 Jesus said to them in reply, 'It is not those that are well who need the doctor, but the sick.32 I have come to call not the upright but sinners to repentance

Isaiah 58:9-149 Then you will cry for help and Yahweh will answer; you will call and he will say, 'I am here.' If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist and malicious words,10 if you deprive yourself for the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, your light will rise in the darkness, and your darkest hour will be like noon.11 Yahweh will always guide you, will satisfy your needs in the scorched land; he will give strength to your bones and you will be like a watered garden, like a flowing spring whose waters never run dry.12 Your ancient ruins will be rebuilt; you will build on age -- old foundations. You will be called 'Breach-mender', 'Restorer of streets to be lived in'.13 If you refrain from breaking the Sabbath, from taking your own pleasure on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath 'Delightful', and the day sacred to Yahweh 'Honourable', if you honour it by abstaining from travel, from seeking your own pleasure and from too much talk,14 then you will find true happiness in Yahweh, and I shall lead you in triumph over the heights of the land. I shall feed you on the heritage of your father Jacob, for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, open our hearts, that we may be able to receive your love, and so we may be able to share your love with those around us.Where there is hatred, help us bring about love, most merciful and loving Sacred Heart.Where fear abounds, help us be a people of faith that trust in You and You alone, most generous and faithful Sacred Heart.

Deuteronomy 30:15-2015 'Look, today I am offering you life and prosperity, death and disaster.16 If you obey the commandments of Yahweh your God, which I am laying down for you today, if you love Yahweh your God and follow his ways, if you keep his commandments, his laws and his customs, you will live and grow numerous, and Yahweh your God will bless you in the country which you are about to enter and make your own.17 But if your heart turns away, if you refuse to listen, if you let yourself be drawn into worshipping other gods and serving them,18 I tell you today, you will most certainly perish; you will not live for long in the country which you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.19 Today, I call heaven and earth to witness against you: I am offering you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live,20 in the love of Yahweh your God, obeying his voice, holding fast to him; for in this your life consists, and on this depends the length of time that you stay in the country which Yahweh swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that he would give them.'

Joel 2:12-1812 'But now -- declares Yahweh- come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning.'13 Tear your hearts and not your clothes, and come back to Yahweh your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and he relents about inflicting disaster.14 Who knows if he will not come back, relent and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal offering and a libation to be presented to Yahweh your God?15 Blow the ram's-horn in Zion! Order a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,16 call the people together, summon the community, assemble the elders, gather the children, even infants at the breast! Call the bridegroom from his bedroom and the bride from her bower!17 Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, stand weeping between portico and altar, saying, 'Spare your people, Yahweh! Do not expose your heritage to the contempt, to the sarcasm of the nations! Why give the peoples cause to say, "Where is their God?" '18 Then, becoming jealous over his country, Yahweh took pity on his people.

The Heart of Jesus Christ is full of love for you. Jesus Christ our Lord wants you to experience that love to the fullest.One way you can surely experience the Heart of Jesus and the love He has for you is by having a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus can help you become a better disciple; it can help you come closer to the Heart of Christ.

The core of every human being is inside their heart. Even if a person was able to be deceitful, in the end their true intentions will be revealed because of what is in their heart.Every person, especially every believer should aspire to have a good heart, for only from a good heart can good things come out of. Love, mercy, compassion, generosity, forgiveness and purity can only come out of a good heart. In contrast, out of an evil heart come hatred, un forgiveness, impurity and all things that corrupt a person.Because all humans are stained with sin, we are incapable of having a pure heart. Therefore, everything that comes out of our heart needs to be purified. The Heart of Jesus Christ is the only heart that is pure, and therefore, it is the only heart that can purify ours.For that reason, seeking the Heart of Jesus Christ is not only beneficial, but it is also necessary for those who follow Christ. By having a devotion the Sacred Heart of Jesus , you can keep your heart connected to the Heart of Jesus Christ. The more connected you are to the Heart of Christ, the more your heart will be in the image of Christ’s Heart.

Mark 8:11-1311 The Pharisees came up and started a discussion with him; they demanded of him a sign from heaven, to put him to the test.12 And with a profound sigh he said, 'Why does this generation demand a sign? In truth I tell you, no sign shall be given to this generation.'13 And, leaving them again, he re-embarked and went away to the other side.

Psalms 50:1, 8, 16-17, 20-211 [Psalm Of David] Give Yahweh his due, sons of God, give Yahweh his due of glory and strength,2 give Yahweh the glory due to his name, adore Yahweh in the splendour of holiness.3 Yahweh's voice over the waters, the God of glory thunders; Yahweh over countless waters,4 Yahweh's voice in power, Yahweh's voice in splendour;1 [Psalm Of Asaph] The God of gods, Yahweh, is speaking, from east to west he summons the earth.8 'It is not with your sacrifices that I find fault, those burnt offerings constantly before me;16 But to the wicked, God says: 'What right have you to recite my statutes, to take my covenant on your lips,17 when you detest my teaching, and thrust my words behind you?20 'You sit there, slandering your own brother, you malign your own mother's son.21 You do this, and am I to say nothing? Do you think that I am really like you? I charge you, indict you to your face.

Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 101 The man had intercourse with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. 'I have acquired a man with the help of Yahweh,' she said.2 She gave birth to a second child, Abel, the brother of Cain. Now Abel became a shepherd and kept flocks, while Cain tilled the soil.3 Time passed and Cain brought some of the produce of the soil as an offering for Yahweh,4 while Abel for his part brought the first-born of his flock and some of their fat as well. Yahweh looked with favour on Abel and his offering.5 But he did not look with favour on Cain and his offering, and Cain was very angry and downcast.6 Yahweh asked Cain, 'Why are you angry and downcast?7 If you are doing right, surely you ought to hold your head high! But if you are not doing right, Sin is crouching at the door hungry to get you. You can still master him.'8 Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let us go out'; and while they were in the open country, Cain set on his brother Abel and killed him.9 Yahweh asked Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?' 'I do not know,' he replied. 'Am I my brother's guardian?'10 'What have you done?' Yahweh asked. 'Listen! Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground.11 Now be cursed and banned from the ground that has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood at your hands.12 When you till the ground it will no longer yield up its strength to you. A restless wanderer you will be on earth.'13 Cain then said to Yahweh, 'My punishment is greater than I can bear.14 Look, today you drive me from the surface of the earth. I must hide from you, and be a restless wanderer on earth. Why, whoever comes across me will kill me!'15 'Very well, then,' Yahweh replied, 'whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.' So Yahweh put a mark on Cain, so that no one coming across him would kill him.25 Adam had intercourse with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she named Seth, 'because God has granted me other offspring', she said, 'in place of Abel, since Cain has killed him.'10 Seven days later the waters of the flood appeared on earth.

Are you a prayer warrior? Do you feel a deep desire to constantly prostrate yourself before the Lord in prayer? Do people frequently come to you and ask you to pray for them? When you see a homeless person or a car accident on the road do you automatically go into prayer mode? Perhaps you should consider becoming part of the Order of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Order of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an interdenominational ministry of prayer. All denominations, Catholic, Baptist, Anglican, Methodists, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Pentecostal are welcome. We are not in the business of changing your denomination or taking you away from your church, congregation or parish, we are in the business of prayer. Visit us at http://sacredheartjesus.org for more info.

Genesis 3:1-81 Now, the snake was the most subtle of all the wild animals that Yahweh God had made. It asked the woman, 'Did God really say you were not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?'2 The woman answered the snake, 'We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden.3 But of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, "You must not eat it, nor touch it, under pain of death." '4 Then the snake said to the woman, 'No! You will not die!5 God knows in fact that the day you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good from evil.'6 The woman saw that the tree was good to eat and pleasing to the eye, and that it was enticing for the wisdom that it could give. So she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realised that they were naked. So they sewed fig-leaves together to make themselves loin-cloths.8 The man and his wife heard the sound of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.

Mark 7:24-3024 He left that place and set out for the territory of Tyre. There he went into a house and did not want anyone to know he was there; but he could not pass unrecognised.25 At once a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him and came and fell at his feet.26 Now this woman was a gentile, by birth a Syro-Phoenician, and she begged him to drive the devil out of her daughter.27 And he said to her, 'The children should be fed first, because it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to little dogs.'28 But she spoke up, 'Ah yes, sir,' she replied, 'but little dogs under the table eat the scraps from the children.'29 And he said to her, 'For saying this you may go home happy; the devil has gone out of your daughter.'30 So she went off home and found the child lying on the bed and the devil gone.

Genesis 2:18-2518 Yahweh God said, 'It is not right that the man should be alone. I shall make him a helper.'19 So from the soil Yahweh God fashioned all the wild animals and all the birds of heaven. These he brought to the man to see what he would call them; each one was to bear the name the man would give it.20 The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of heaven and all the wild animals. But no helper suitable for the man was found for him.21 Then, Yahweh God made the man fall into a deep sleep. And, while he was asleep, he took one of his ribs and closed the flesh up again forthwith.22 Yahweh God fashioned the rib he had taken from the man into a woman, and brought her to the man.23 And the man said: This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh! She is to be called Woman, because she was taken from Man.24 This is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his wife, and they become one flesh.25 Now, both of them were naked, the man and his wife, but they felt no shame before each other.

How great is Your love for us Jesus. Nothing compares to Your merciful and generous Heart.Guide us we pray, keep us free from sin we implore You. Help us walk in Your likeness, help us love as You love.Let our hearts be in constant communion with Your Sacred Heart, so that our life may become a joyful song of praise to our Father in Heaven. Amen!

Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-2418 What you have come to is nothing known to the senses: not a blazing fire, or gloom or total darkness, or a storm;19 or trumpet-blast or the sound of a voice speaking which made everyone that heard it beg that no more should be said to them.20 They could not bear the order that was given: If even a beast touches the mountain, it must be stoned.21 The whole scene was so terrible that Moses said, 'I am afraid and trembling.'22 But what you have come to is Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have gathered for the festival,23 with the whole Church of first-born sons, enrolled as citizens of heaven. You have come to God himself, the supreme Judge, and to the spirits of the upright who have been made perfect;24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to purifying blood which pleads more insistently than Abel's.