A PRAYER FOR THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD (OT)

ISAIAH 43

But now, this is what the Lord says—

    he who created you, Jacob,

    he who formed you, Israel:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the Lord your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

The waters look dangerous, Lord

We're not sure we can stay afloat

Swim to the other side

It looks a long way over

We want to cross over to the other side

To discover a new future

Get a fresh start

We have made a mish mash of our lives

We have done so much wrong

We just want to wash it all away

The waters look dangerous, Lord

The fire is too hot

We fear just jumping in

Living for all we are worth

Reaching for today, tomorrow

If we drown in the fire

Burn up

We will lose everything

We are desperate amidst the blaze

Panicked that we will not make it

We will lose everything

What if we can't escape the flames

What if we can't hold our breath long enough

We will lose everything

The fire is too hot

2 When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

If you swim along side of us

We can make it

If you keep ahold of us

We'll reach the other side

If you are right beside us

We can grab the other bank

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

If you walk with us

We will survive

If you guide us

We will not be scorched

If you lead

We will follow safely

3 For I am the Lord your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Into your arms we race

In your love we rest

By your grace we are whole

With your baptism we are cleansed

Hallelujah

Amen