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 have much to do. I cannot fulfill all my responsibilities without divine assistance. You have given me purpose. You have called me to important work. I commence my work only by your name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
I invite my Lord,
Jesus, you have given me skills and abilities and opportunity to use them. But without you, my labor is in vain. So go with me Lord. May my work today be a blessing to those around me. Amen.
Confession
I confess my sins,
Lord, there is much in me that needs reform. O gracious God, remove my guilt and pollution. Restore all that I have spoiled. Wash away my sin, but not simply to leave a vacant space. Fill my forgiven heart with sacred gifts and a holy compulsion to do your will. Form me into the likeness of Jesus. Wipe clear a clean slate, then mark it with holy handwriting. Redeem my unworthiness that you may be glorified in my being. I would be nothing; be thou all in all. Amen.
Word: Luke 10:7-9
“Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”
Meditation
When Jesus sends out the seventy-two, he says “Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” Now I have no doubts that these disciples of Jesus did just that: they healed the sick and proclaimed the kingdom of God. And in this way, they participated in exactly what Jesus had been doing throughout his ministry.
In broad terms, the work of Jesus is restoring and repairing the consequences of human sin. To put everything back the way God designed it to be from the very beginning, only even better. To heal a broken and corrupt creation.
And Christians have always participated with their Lord in this work. Sometimes through miraculous ways, but more often through normal, every-day sorts of ways that give glimpses of the coming kingdom. Hospitals and universities. The abolition of slavery and the fight against human trafficking. Beauty in art and music. So many ways that Christians throughout the centuries have employed their abilities and skills to bring healing to a broken creation and point the coming kingdom. All to the glory of God.
You have been called to that same work. To participate with Jesus in the restoration and repair of the field God has assigned to you. Whether that’s as a homemaker, in an office, or at a jobsite. And so go. Heal what is sick and proclaim the kingdom of God.
Prayer for Daily Callings
- For my occupation, workplace, coworkers.
- For my work to be good for others, an extension of God’s love and care.
- For the unemployed.
- For growth in my career; not to work for a paycheck but for you and others.
- For discernment, if I should pursue another job or direction in life.
- For my callings at home as spouse, son/daughter, brother/sister.
- For schools, teachers, classmates.
- For eyes to see God’s work around me this day. For the courage to participate in it.
- Not to be comfortable in my callings, but to be useful.
Prayer
O Creator, unless you build the house, those who labor build in vain. Make my work good for you. I do not want my work to be vapor, the whims of my own dreams. I want what you want for me. I want to do significant work that you desire. Lord, give me good work to do. Grow abundant fruit through my life so that you get glory. Amen.