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, Your name is above every name on earth, over every nation and ruler. Every knee will bow at the announcement of your name. So I kneel this day and call upon the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
I invite my Lord,
Jesus, you are the light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome. Illuminate my darkened heart. Scatter the shadows and give me the light of life. (John 8:12)
Confession
I come before God with a sober assessment of my life:
I, a poor sinner, plead guilty before God of all sins.
I have lived as if God did not matter and as if I mattered most.
My Lord’s name I have not honored as I should;
My worship and prayers have faltered.
I have not let His love have its way with me, and so my love for others
Has failed.
There are those whom I have hurt, and those whom I have failed to
help.
My thoughts and desires have been soiled with sin.
I am sorry for all of this and ask for grace. I want to do better.
Word: John 1:1-18; 8:12
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[b] and his own people[c] did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
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 the World
- For my city, state, and country.
- For leaders: mayor, governor, president, congress.
- For those who serve the public: police officers, firefighters, teachers, first responders, medical personnel.
- For the nations of the world, for world leaders.
- For God to curb violence and evil, and to work peace among all peoples.
- For good government, good schools, good business.
- For justice, especially for the oppressed: minorities, immigrants and refugees, orphans, widows, the very young or unborn, the aged.
- For creation: for the care of land, air, wildlife, and sea.
Prayer
O God, you are the one, true Light. Grant me bravery in the face of darkness. I face the lion and furnace, spear and sword. Today there may be challenge, attack, temptation, or enemy. Let them incite in me an unshakable trust in you and a holy courage to do you will. Help me not to succumb to despair in the face of danger. Keep me from all evil. Sustain me that I may follow you faithfully until my life’s end. In the name of the worldwide Light, Jesus Christ, Amen.