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
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matt. 5:7) You are the great Giver of mercy. Move me to show your mercy. Amen.
Word: Matthew 13:33
[Jesus] told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
Meditation
Fall is my favorite time of the year. I love seeing the leaves change colors, pulling out the fall flannels, and the warm days and cool nights. As the temperatures drop, I like to see how long I can go before turning on the furnace, simply relying on direct sunlight and warm afternoons to keep the house heated. But eventually the furnace comes on and the thermostat regulates the temperature.
The citizens of the kingdom of God cannot help but have an effect on the people around them. Like yeast in a batch of dough. Or the thermostat in a building. How we respond to the different situations we face, impacts the way our neighbors will respond when faced with similar circumstances.
So, in this season of increased anxiety and worry, how can your response reflect your faith in Jesus?
Prayer for Neighbors
· For my immediate geographical neighbors.
· For my community, neighborhood, town/city.
· For neighbors hurting from broken families, addiction, violence, abuse, poverty, sickness.
· For the eyes of the Good Samaritan, to see and help my neighbor in need.
Closing Prayer
Father, you send me to my neighbors and community like leaven in a batch of dough. May my words and actions reflect my trust in you and give hope to those around me. Amen.