One Word
This winter on The Daily Pattern we’re in a series called One Word. Each day we take one word – a feeling or circumstance – and bring a word from God to it. Let the Word of God speak to your life.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt. 5:5) O Lord, I am lowly and humble. You alone are my inheritance. Amen.
Word: Isaiah 43:1
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.’”
Meditation
Name by Allison Lewis
A close friend of mine fosters dogs. So far, she’s already fostered six, each with very unique names: Eileen, Wyatt, Rocky, Chester, Jordan, and Jake. She spends time training them, walking them, cuddling with them, working on commands, and helping them adjust to life inside a house with people.
I find that oftentimes, the dog’s name really matches their personality. Elieen is a four-year-old lady who moves a bit slower than she used to, but still thinks she’s a puppy. Wyatt is a scatterbrained three-year-old lab mix with a ton of energy and love to give. Jake is the life of the party and always smiling.
Two weeks ago, something strange happened. My friend brought home a dog who didn’t know his name.
She would call out, “Felix!” and he wouldn’t respond. It was almost like he hadn’t heard her calling to him.
About a week later, the situation progressed to the dog tilting his head, looking at my friend questioningly. I could almost hear him ask, “Is Felix my name? Are you talking to me?”
In seasons where life is pushing back harder than we’d like to admit, sometimes it feels like we don’t know who we truly are. It can feel like we are on our own, fending for ourselves. But that’s absolutely not true.
Isaiah 43 reminds us that God himself has called you and I by name: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). The God of the universe knows each and every one of his children by name. How incredible is that?!
We are reminded of this promise in our baptism. Through simple water and God’s word, we are redeemed, forgiven and made new. God calls us by name. We are his children—always.
Lord, thank you for calling me and knowing me by name. Thank you for loving me and for reminding me of this promise through my baptism. Help me to spread your name to others today. Amen.
Prayer for Family
· For my immediate family (parents, spouse, siblings).
· For extended family (cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents)
· For close friends that are as family to me.
· For those who don’t have families, or whose families are broken.
· For forgiveness and reconciliation where there is division in my family.
· For provision where there is need in my family.
· For God to be the foundation, and the cross the center of my family.
· For a generation yet unborn, future members of our family.
Closing Prayer
O Lord and King, your Kingdom comes even without our prayer. But we pray that it would also come among us. We are desperate for your reign and rule, for all we see is rebellion. Come into my heart, my home, my family, my work, my church, my community. Rule with justice and with mercy. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.