With all the noise in the world, do you hear the voice of God? Your calendar tells you what to do, but do you remember who you are? Being comes before doing. This is a call to put first things first. Return to the Lord with this daily pattern of prayer and devotion. Set aside this time as a sanctuary. Find a space free of distraction and follow this pattern.
Invocation
Making the sign of the cross, I say,
O God, I whisper your name and my identity is claimed. I belong to you. So I begin this day in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
I invite my Lord:
O God, you have called me your own and given me purpose. I was made to bear fruit. Do away with my selfish tendencies. Help me to be who you’ve made me to be. I want to live a fruitful life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Confession
I am honest about my frailty and failure. I confess:
Lord, how easily do I forget who I am. I obsess over what I possess, what I have accomplished, and what others think of me. I care more about what they say about me than what you say. I have forgotten you. Forgive my image obsession. Help me think more of you and less of self. You must increase, I must decrease. You alone are my joy, your love my only desire.
Word: John 15:16
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide . . .”
Meditation
Grapevines produce grapes. I know, it’s obvious. But it would be silly if a grapevine produced bananas. It would be miserable if they produced briars. It would be disappointing if they produced no fruit.
Each plant in its own kind does what it was made to do. It’s part of the organism’s DNA. God has crafted each kind to produce what he desires. Apple trees are for apples. Tomato plants are for tomatoes. Those who follow Christ are also made for bearing fruit.
Jesus chose you. He has “appointed you” to bear fruit, to extend his love into the world. You are to be as Jesus to everyone around you. As a child of God, it’s in your DNA. You were made for this!
What happens when you don’t feel very fruitful? Remember that your fruitfulness comes from Christ, not yourself. As fruit comes from a branch connected to the vine, so your love comes from Jesus himself. Look to what he has done for you, so that you may know what to do for others. Bear fruit.
Prayer for My Life as a Child of God
- For the Father to give me care and guidance.
- For forgiveness when I wander and want my own way.
- For childlike faith, like a child crawling up into the Father’s lap and whispering in his ear.
- For the ability to be flexible, learn, and change as I age.
- For growth in faith, that I love and trust in God above all things.
- For strength to obey God.
- For the Father to heal my hurts.
- For assurance when I doubt.
- For the discipline to make necessary changes in my life.
Prayer
O God:
I am the pool, You are the waterfall. I only expend what I receive. O Lord, fall on me.
I am the shoreline. You are the sea. I am shaped by your breakers over me. O Lord, crash upon me.
I am the child. You are Father. I only live by what you give. O Lord, Father me.
I am the pool, You are the waterfall. It’s all receptivity. O Lord, fall on me. Amen.