Rest is good. We’re taking a break from producing content over the summer. Enjoy this previously produced pattern and meditation.
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:
Jesus, you know that I love you. I have seen your love. You proved it in blood. Like your friend Peter once said, I say, “Jesus, you know that I love you.” Come to me now. (John 21:15)
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 21:15-19
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Meditation
What is God saying in this passage? Try to repeat the substance in your own words.
Is there a word or phrase that jumped out at you? (Pay attention to verbs.) Why does it stand out?
What does God want me to do with this word?
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.