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
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation
Risen Christ, by your death and resurrection you brought dawn to darkness. You have made a new way, from death to life, cross to crown, grave to glory. We are frail creatures in a world of change and decay. Rule over us in your resurrection power. Subdue sin and evil, disease and destruction. We have nothing apart from you, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.
Confession
O Lord, I live a world of dead ends. There is always an end. An end to my energy. My time. My love. My patience. My money. My very life. I am trapped by limits. I am burdened by my frail, finite limits. I have exhausted all other options. Nothing else satisfies. You burst forth from the grave to give me life beyond the horizon. You are my singular hope, my only prayer. Risen Savior, have mercy on my dead ends.
Word: Genesis 1:14-15
“And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so.”
Meditation: Look Up At The StarsToday’s meditation is written by Koleen Barnes.
Last week, while on vacation in Arizona, I was able to drive out to where it was totally dark and look up. Where my normal view of the night sky in the city is clouded with an orangish, albeit sometimes beautiful, city glow, this darkness allowed for something much clearer.
When I looked up in the expected blackness, I saw so many bright stars, planets, and even a thin wispy white band snaking through it all, the Milky Way. This view took up everything I could see. I spun staring up trying to take it all in and could not bring myself to look away.
Astronomers tell us that there are 100 billion stars in our galaxy and an estimated 100 billion galaxies in our universe. That math brings us to 1 trillion billion stars out there. That is 1 with 22 zeros behind it! And there is also me. How could the same creator of all of that also create me? How can I, being so small and being here for such a short amount of time, be needed? What impact could I possibly have in such a vast universe?
Genesis 1 tells us this of the stars and planets, “…let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years.” which shows that though these things are vast and ancient and numerous, they were put here for us. Sure, they are used by people who are way more skilled than I to study our past, as well as take a look at our future. They have been used for navigation and construction as well as entertainment and art.
Stephen Hawking, a lifelong student of time and space, wrote, “Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.”
When I was looking at the stars, I was truly in wonder. I thought about God, our universe, and my place in it. Maybe along with all of their history and importance, these stars are also here to remind me of my God-given purpose. Maybe by taking my sights off of my feet here on earth and looking up, God is reminding me that he created me specifically and for his purpose and if I forget, the solution is to simply turn my face to the stars for a quick reminder.
Lord, I ask that you continue to show me how I can work in small ways to have a great impact for Your purpose. We pray that you guide our small hearts to do great things. Amen.
Benediction
The God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (I Pet. 5:10-11)