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,
Your people are called by your name. We call upon you and demons flee. I begin today in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
Jesus, you are the way, the truth, and the life. All other ways are dead ends. I come to the Father through you. (John 14:6)
Confession
Paul said in Romans, “Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase?” Father, I confess that I have abused your grace by treating it lightly, flippantly, even disrespectfully. You forgive me, and I keep coming back with the same sins. You cleanse me, and I have not amended my life. You have mercy, and I remain as I have always been. I have desecrated what was costly. I have cheapened your love. I’m the one at fault. But I see the cross. I know your love cost something, the life of your Son. Because of him, I ask you, “Will you forgive me once again?”
Word: John 15:13-16
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 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, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
Meditation
The body of Christ finds security in knowing we are not our own but belong to our faithful Savior, Jesus. People who are focused on themselves lash out, insist on getting their way, or ignore people different from themselves. People who are secure in Christ show a fearless, secure love.
The church is a community gathered in and through Jesus Christ. We are people-a broken, sinful, hypocritical, lying, thieving people.
Yet, the Church is God’s people because He has made us a people in Christ. The church does not proclaim perfection, but redemption.
We are washed and redeemed by the sacrificial love of Jesus.
Remember that you are loved to your very core through Jesus Christ.
You belong to him. Your sins are forgiven. He loves you as you are. The wide, long, high, deep love of Christ surpasses knowledge, drives out fear, turns from selfishness, and associates with people of low position. Christ’s love fills his followers through the power of his Holy Spirit.
You can love without pride or fear because your security is in Christ.
Prayer for the Church
- For my local congregation, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
- For Christians across my community and city.
- For my denomination or church body.
- For repentance where God’s people have failed or erred.
- For the mission of God given to his people, that all nations know Him.
- For the church where she is persecuted for Christ’s name.
- For church plants and mission frontiers.
- For workers in the harvest: pastors, teachers, evangelists, servants.
- For the everyday, ordinary Christian to serve and witness as the priesthood of all believers.
- For the small, overlooked, and undervalued parts of the body of Christ.
Prayer
Lord of the Church, you have made us your own people. Show us your way. Lead us in truth. Give us life abundant to share with the world. Amen.