LITANY OF THE INCARNATION

O Jesus Christ, the Lord of all good life, who hast called us to build the city of God, enrich and purify our lives, and deepen in us our discipleship. Help us daily to know more of Thee that through us, by the power of Thy Spirit, Thou mayest show forth Thyself to other men. Make us humble, brave, and loving. Make us ready for adventure. We do not ask that Thou wilt keep us safe but that Thou wilt keep us loyal to Thee, who for us didst face death unafraid and dost live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

From a lack of reverence for truth and beauty; from prejudice and all false sentiment; from contentment with the mean and ugly:
O Christ, deliver us.

From the cowardice that dare not face newly discovered truths, the laziness that is contented with half-truths, and the arrogance of thinking we know all truths:
O Christ, deliver us.

From artificiality in life, in worship, in ministering from all that is hollow, unreal, and insincere:
O Christ, deliver us.

From trivial ideals and cheap pleasures; from mistaking coarseness or vulgarity for true humor:
O Christ, deliver us.

From being dull and pompous; from being rude, offensive, or ill-mannered:
O Christ, deliver us.

From the blasphemy of cynicism toward our brethren originally made in the image of God; from vanity, intolerance, and contempt:
O Christ, deliver us. 

From all uncleanness and unwholesomeness; from selfishness, slackness, and self-indulgence:
O Christ, deliver us.

From the false piety which cannot laugh; from self-centeredness in our pity; from narrowness of our own making; and from love of system above the love of Thee:
O Christ, deliver us.

From everything in our lives and methods which may hide the true light of Thee, the Light of the world: 
O Christ, deliver us.

From the disloyalty of being satisfied with things as they are in the church and in the world and from failing to share Thy indignation:
O Christ, deliver us.

We beseech Thee, O Lord, pour Thy grace into our hearts that as we have known Thy incarnation by the message of an angel, so by Thy cross and Passion we may be brought unto the glory of Thy resurrection; for the honor of Thy holy name. Amen. 

The Daily Office (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1965), 39–40.