Collect: The Attentiveness of God

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

This collect is packed with encouragement because it heralds the everlasting power and personal attentiveness of God. With trained ears, he anticipates our prayers; and with open hands, he blesses us with good things. No request is too great for God. Indeed, many times we are guilty of asking God for far too little rather than asking him for way too much. We lack because we do not ask (James 4:2). We need to pray bigger prayers. By that I don’t mean wordy, flowery prayers. Instead, I mean prayers that ask God for bigger things because it is God’s compassionate nature to bless us. He expects us to pray big prayers!

So if you need mercy or forgiveness or protection or a quiet mind, or, for that matter, any other great or small thing from God, this collect marshals us to lean upon our Heavenly Father, who is poised to listen and ready to respond; all because we are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus our Lord. All this is based on the grace and merit and intercession of the Lord, not our good behavior or perfect petitioning. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Corinthians 15:57)