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 17:7
“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”
Meditation: Never Ceasing
Today’s meditation is written by Koleen Barnes.
With so much content and responsibility surrounding us every day, it is easy to feel unseen or stuck in the rhythm. Most of the time I have no idea what to do to get out of my own head when I am feeling this way, let alone being able to sit and pray. My problems and worries seem very small in comparison to our amazing God.
Our God has done so many amazing things! The Bible, and our history, are filled with stories of people with more faith than I think I could bring myself to muster following him without a second thought. Noah, Moses, Abraham, the list goes on and on.
A poem by Tanner Olson contains one line to the effect of, “If thinking is praying, then certainly I never cease.” Sometimes I find it easy to get the two jumbled up. A thought that was meant as a prayer trails off, never to return to my original request or praise, especially when I am feeling unseen. It feels like I am not living up to my “end of the deal” with God.
When I am in the thick of life, it is easy to project my everyday transactional relationships onto my spiritual life, too. The thought that I must act or perform in a certain way to gain God’s attention or be worthy of his love is an easy one to latch on to. It is easy to feel like what I am going through is not worthy of His time or attention.
C.S. Lewis, a writer in Christian apologetics, writes about this feeling and both the logical and theological reasoning as to why we are wrong in thinking this. Lewis writes, “Almost certainly God is not in time. His life does not consist of moments one following another…” This means that God has infinite time to spend with us and listen to our prayers. We are not pulling him away from something more important—we are what is important.
When I am feeling unseen, this helps me remember that no thought, no matter how trailing, is too small or unimportant for God. He has all of the time in the world to spend specifically with me. It also reminds me that the covenants God made with these astounding biblical characters are meant for me as well. I don’t have to hold up my end of the deal to deserve his love. I already have it.
Heavenly Father, I pray that you continue to show me the reminders of your promises. Help me to be open to sharing my life with you, no matter how small the details may be. 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)