In The Still Place

Peter’s final charge to his faith family is to be found like Jesus, whole and holy—without spot or blemish—and at peace. Peace, in the midst of daily existing that often feels more fluid than solid seems like a pipe dream of sorts—at least at times. But Peter concludes his second letter with a cascading picture of God’s action in the world from its founding and into its awaiting future. This final image to settle our minds and hearts upon is nothing less than heaven and earth meeting once more and yet anew.

Last week, we prayed a prayer for the still place which Jesus leads. This week is another adaptation of a Malcolm Guite poem “Caeli enarrant” which is based on Psalm 19. It is a prayer from the still place, to see in the Son anew, the true light given for our growth and delight.

Let’s pray…

Father, here in the still place where earth and heaven meet

Under mysterious starlight of old becoming new, help us to raise our heads

And gaze up at their glory: ‘the complete

Consort dancing’ as one poet said

Of his own words. But the You-made-new are all God’s words:

A shining poem, waiting to be read

Afresh in every heart. Let us now look towards

The bright’ning east, and see the splendid sun

Rise and rejoice, the icon of his Lord’s

True light. May we be joyful with him, watch him run

His course, receive the treasure of his light

Pouring like honeyed gold till day is done,

As sweet and strong as All God’s laws, as right

As all his judgments and as clean and pure—without spot or blemish,

All given for our growth, and our delight!

May the Son shine upon us, and may we delight in the grace of his light.

Amen.

To The Still Place

Peter’s final charge to his faith family is to be found like Jesus, pure of heart and at peace. Peace, in the midst of daily existing that often feels more fluid than solid seems like a pipe dream of sorts—at least at times. But Peter concludes his second letter with a cascading picture of God’s action in the world from its founding and into its awaiting future. This final image to settle our minds and hearts upon is nothing less than heaven and earth meeting once more and yet anew. A visual which Peter encourages us to grasp as we remember what God has done, and see what he is doing even today.

Our prayer this week is an adaptation of Malcolm Guite’s poem “Dilgigam te, Domine” which is based on Psalm 18. It is a prayer in-line with Peter, for and from the still place which Jesus leads us.

Father, let us behold you, and be satisfied,

Our strength, our rock, our buckler, and our shield!

You came to rescue us, we have seen you ride

The wind's swift wings at our cry,

reducing us and your children generation after generation after generation.

We have seen the water yield

To you, as you reached down to lift us out

Out of the whelming panic, where we reeled

And flailed in fear of daily death.

You heard our shout,

Our anguished cry for help, and carried us

And held us safe and put our fears to rout.

Now, Father, give us back our liberty,

through the memory of your Son.

Strengthen our weak hands and set our feet

To dancing lightly as a deer, O let us be (!)

as free

As any in the forest, and as fleet.

Come quickly, Jesus!

And with your call, draw us in your love

To that still place where earth and heaven meet.

In Jesus, amen.

From the Quieted Space II

The psalmist declares, “I have calmed and quieted my soul” (Ps. 131:2). One translation says it this way, “I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.” From this quieted space springs forth a free and content life, says the psalmist. A life we all long for and a life that is borne from an earthy view of our heavenly Father. It is awe and wonder of our Father’s love and care demonstrated in his movement of history which has the psalmist in a quiet space.

This week, let us pray together for a life birthed from this quieted space of soul and heart in the presence of our good and glorious God. We’ll do so with these words adapted from John Ballie. Words that we’ve prayed before and that we will come back to again and again as we follow Jesus through life together.

Eternal Father of our souls, let our first thought of each day this coming week be of you, let our first impulse each day be to worship you, let our first word each day be your Name, let our first action each day be to kneel before you in professed thanksgiving and freeing awe.

For your perfect wisdom and perfect goodness;

For the love you have for all people;

For the love you have for me and us;

For the great mysterious opportunity of our lives in your salvation story;

For your Spirit, who dwells in our hearts;

For the gifts of your Spirit which Jesus has for us;

We praise and worship you, O Father.

Yet when this day’s prayer is finished, do not let us think that our worship is ended and spend the rest of the day and week forgetting you. Rather, from these quiet moments and quieted spaces, let light and joy and power pour out and remain with us through every hour of this week.

May that light and joy and power:

Keep our thoughts pure;

Keep us gentle and truthful in all we say;

Keep us faithful and diligent in our work;

Keep us humble in our opinion of ourselves;

Keep us honorable and generous in our dealings with others;

Keep us loyal to every cherished memory of the past;

Keep us mindful of our eternal destiny as your children.

O, Father, you have been the refuge of your people through many generations; be our refuge in every moment and every need we face this week. Be our guide through all uncertainty and darkness. Be our guard against all that threatens our physical and spiritual well-being. Be our strength in times of trials and security in time of testing. Cheer our hearts with your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Savior, King, and Friend. Amen.

Two Prayers In One

This week, we will be praying two prayers together. These prayers are meant to be prayed in sequence, one with the other for one another. My encouragement is to pause only momentarily between the two, taking a deep breath and remembering that what you are speaking to God on behalf of others, is also being spoken for you.

Let us pray two prayers in one, these words adapted from Ernest T. Campbell.

PRAYER I

Father, with desires that we cannot fully identify, much less describe; with fears too personal to voice; harboring hostilities of which we are ashamed; and weighted with a sense of guilt for having done so little with so much; we make bold now to pray for ourselves:

teach us what it means to live in you,

to rest in you,

to hope in you;

let your presence fill those homes where death has come and sickness is near;

let your wisdom fall like a gentle rain on the parched souls of

all who are confused and searching;

let your warming, healing light kindle trust in those who are

anxious or in any way afflicted;

let your joy overcome the dolefulness of those who have

forgotten how to laugh.

Shape your grace around our inmost needs, O Father. Do not give us over to ourselves. Strive with us yet a little longer, for we love you and desire to serve you fully.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER II

We thank you, Father, that praise is therapy, and gratitude the medicine of the soul. At least for the time it takes to pray, we set our minds on your mercies and give up feeling sorry for ourselves. You have blessed us with the gift of life:

surrounded us with friends;

trusted us with responsibility;

endowed us with conscience;

provided us with all things needful for life and godliness;

and set your love upon us.

Here within this quiet moment, we remember those whose sacrifices have and are securing the good that we enjoy:

parents, teachers, and health care workers

artists, inventors, and those in all kinds of service industries

scholars, city workers, and prophets old and new.

Chiefly we remember Jesus Christ:

his selfless life;

his voluntary death;

his victorious resurrection;

and his continuing power to save.

Our praises rise to you, form whom our blessings come.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Open to The Invitation Finale

In Isaiah, the Suffering Servant extends a most generous invitation. An invitation into the abundance of God’s welcome. An invitation that requires nothing of the recipient except an openness to acceptance. Unfortunately, as history has proven, rather than openness, the invitation is often met with reluctance.

Sometimes the reluctance stems from not feeling worthy of such an invitation, but more often, if honest, the closure comes from preference or pride. Preference for something else, whatever that else might be. Pride in wanting to pay our own way, not willing to admit that we are in need of the generosity of another.

So, this month, rather than praying a different prayer each week we have prayed the same prayer over and over again. We’ve prayed it for ourselves and for a named neighbor and for those in our Gospel Communities. This week, let’s pray it one last over our city. Beseeching the One who gave his life so that even those who think they have no need of him might receive God’s welcome.

As you’re praying, if a particular person’s name, a people group, or even another faith family comes to mind, pray them specifically into Isaiah 55:1-2. May our city hunger for, thirst after, and find satisfaction in Jesus.

Come, Dallas, a city who thirsts (Father, make us thirrsty), come to the waters;

and Dallas who has so much money, see that they need no money, to come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price, Dallas.

Why Dallas do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to us and eat what is good (Father, give us, your Church, opportunity and courage to speak your invitation to our city, and open hearts to recieve it),

and delight Dallas, in rich food—the body and blood of Jesus.

In his name we pray, amen.

For Us to Be Open to The Invitation

In Isaiah, the Suffering Servant extends a most generous invitation. An invitation into the abundance of God’s welcome. An invitation that requires nothing of the recipient except an openness to acceptance. Unfortunately, as history has proven, rather than openness, the invitation is met with reluctance.

Sometimes the reluctance stems from not feeling worthy of such an invitation, but more often, if honest, the closure comes from preference or pride. Preference for something something else, whatever that else might be. Pride in wanting to pay our own way, not willing to admit that we are in need of the generosity of another.

So, this month, rather than praying a different prayer each week we will pray the same prayer. We’ve prayed it for ourselves and for a named neighbor. This week, let’s pray it for one another, for a person(s) in your Gospel Community. Beseeching the One who gave his life so we might receive God’s welcome.

Before praying, name a person(s) for whom you are praying this prayer from Isaiah 55:1-2. Who are you praying this prayer for today and this week? Name that person and pray…

Come, ____ who thirsts (Father, may ____ thirst), come to the waters;

and ___ who has no money, come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Why ____ do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me (Father, give me opportunity and courage to speak your invitation to ____), and eat what is good,

and delight _____, in rich food.

Open to the Invitation Too

In Isaiah, the Suffering Servant extends a most generous invitation. An invitation into the abundance of God’s welcome. An invitation that requires nothing of the recipient except an openness to acceptance. Unfortunately, as history has proven, rather than openness, the invitation is met with reluctance.

Sometimes the reluctance stems from not feeling worthy of such an invitation, but more often, if honest, the closer comes from preference or pride. Preference for something something else, whatever that else might be. Pride in wanting to pay our own way, not willing to admit that we are in need of the generosity of another.

So, this month, rather than praying a different prayer each week we will pray the same prayer. Praying it for ourselves, that we would be open to the invitation of God’s welcome. And praying for our neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers, that they too would be open, as we open our lives to them.

Let’s pray this invitation from the One who gave his life so we and our neighbors might receive it. Before praying, name a neighbor for whom you are praying this prayer from Isaiah 55:1-2. Who are you praying this prayer for today and this week? Name that person and pray…

Come, ____ who thirsts (Father, may ____ thirst), come to the waters;

and ___ who has no money, come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Why ____ do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me (Father, give me opportunity and courage to speak your invitation to ____), and eat what is good,

and delight _____, in rich food.

Open to the Invitation

In Isaiah, the Suffering Servant extends a most generous invitation. An invitation into the abundance of God’s welcome. An invitation that requires nothing of the recipient except an openness to acceptance. Unfortunately, as history has proven, rather than openness, the invitation is met with reluctance. Sometimes the reluctance stems from not feeling worthy of such an invitation, but more often, if honest, the closer comes from preference or pride. Preference for something something else, whatever that else might be. Pride in wanting to pay our own way, not willing to admit that we are in need of the generosity of another.

So, this month, rather than praying a different prayer each week we will pray the same prayer. Praying it for ourselves, that we would be open to the invitation of God’s welcome. And praying for our neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers, that they too would be open, as we open our lives to them.

Let’s pray this invitation from the One who gave his life so we might receive it. Familiarizing ourselves with the invitation from Isaiah 55:1-2, as we pray into it over the coming weeks.

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;

and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

Psalms Praying

The Psalms have been the prayer book of God’s people for millennia. In this expansive collection, we learn the language of answering God in every situation, out of every emotion, in every state of faith humanity experiences. This week, let us prayer together an adapted compellation of multiple psalms put together by John Ballie that teach us what to pray when in a place of great need—mentally, emotionally, physically, and in our soul.

We call up you, O Father: come quickly to us; give ear to our voice when we call to you. Let our prayers be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of our hands as an evening prayer.

O Father, open our lips, and our mouths will declare your praise.

Bless the Lord, O our souls, and do not forget all his benefits:

who forgives all our iniquity;

who heals all our diseases;

who redeems our life from the pit;

who crowns us with steadfast love and mercy;

who satisfies us with good as long as we live so that we are always young in his presence.

But who can detect their errors? Clear us from hidden faults. Clean the slate, Father, so we can start the day fresh! Keep us from stupid sins, from thinking we can take over your work.

Have mercy on us, Our Father, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out our transgressions. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin. For we know our transgressions, and our sin is ever before us.

Be to us a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save us, for you are our rock and our fortress.

We will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Father, make us lie down in safety.

Through Jesus, your Son, and our Savior. Amen.

Three Prayers | the third

In Ernest T. Campbell’s collection of prayers, Where Cross the Crowded Way, he prays in triplet. There are few singular prays in the collection. Almost every prayer is one of three. I think each is meant to build upon the other in some way. Usually the first is a confession or observation of some sort. The second flow out of it into prayers for others, and, usually, the third is a prayer for the ones praying.

The pattern doesn’t always follow, but the final triplet in the section “All Sorts of Conditions and People,” holds true. We’ve already prayed the first and second, so this week, let us join together in the third and final of three prayers.

Confident of your care, we pray now for ourselves. For Christ City Church.

We are many things to many people, but in your sight your sons and daughters.

Encourage us in obedience where we have grown lax.

Restore us in tenderness where we have grown hard.

Renew us in purpose where we have grown confused.

Uphold the bereaved in their loneliness, and give our sick to know that your ear is not heavy that it cannot hear, nor your arm short that it cannot save. Bless us, each one, with an unhindered view of your majesty, that, sure of the power at work within us, we may live, not somehow, but triumphantly in Jesus.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

Three Prayers | the second

In Ernest T. Campbell’s collection of prayers, Where Cross the Crowded Way, he prays in triplet. There are few singular prays in the collection. Almost every prayer is one of three. I think each is meant to build upon the other in some way. Usually the first is a confession or observation of some sort. The second flow out of it into prayers for others, and, usually, the third is a prayer for the ones praying.

The pattern doesn’t always follow, but the final triplet in the section “All Sorts of Conditions and People,” holds true. Last week we prayed the first. This week, let us join together in the second of three prayers.

We join our prayers this week in intercession for men and women in our society who are trapped:

those who are trapped in poverty with no sign of relief;

those who are trapped in jobs that engage but a fraction of their powers;

those who are trapped in families where love has ebbed away;

those who are trapped in unwanted alliances out of which they cannot break;

those who are trapped by the fear of discovery, or by dependency on others, or by a need for drugs or alcohol, or by any addiction.

O Father, whose will it is that we be free, and who gave your Son that we might be delivered from all coercive powers,

make us examples of your freedom, proclaimers of your freedom, and instruments of your freedom;

snap our chains that we may loose the chains of others.

Then shall the joy of the liberated rise from the earth like a mighty hymn of praise.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Three Prayers | the first

In Ernest T. Campbell’s collection of prayers, Where Cross the Crowded Way, he prays in triplet. There are few singular prays in the collection. Almost every prayer is one of three. I think each is meant to build upon the other in some way. Usually the first is a confession or observation of some sort. The second flow out of it into prayers for others, and, usually, the third is a prayer for the ones praying.

The pattern doesn’t always follow, but the final triplet in the section “All Sorts of Conditions and People,” holds true. This week, let us join together in the first of three prayers.

For reasons we do not altogether understand, O Father, it is easier for us to find fault than to give thanks. Our grievances lie on the tip of our tongue, while mercies that ought to excite our praise are easily lost from view.

We thank you for truth and the varied forms in which it comes to us:

in closely reasoned logic,

in scientific demonstrations,

in the forced impact of a well-staged drama,

in inspired verse,

in the brilliance of a painted masterpiece,

in the shattering disclosure of Scripture,

in the self-sight that comes from a shared love,

in the clarifying ecstasy of prayer and meditation.

O Father, the author of all truth, help us in our search to find the same. To find you. By the quiet action of your Holy Spirit in our hearts lead us at last or again to Jesus, that in his presence we may know

who we are

and whose we are,

and why we are.

Then, with a confidence born of faith, we shall have yet one cause more for which to bless your name.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Prayer for the Sake of Prayers

In the light of Jesus’ already and impending victory, Peter encourages his faith family to be “self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” I think it’s the “and” that requires a balanced temperament and attentive realism. Jesus has—in life, death and resurrection—brought about a living hope, and Jesus is reigning over all degrades life, and Jesus will complete what our Father promised all those millennia ago. As we live in the midst of “and,” let us join together in praying for the sake of our prayers.

Father, we confess that the “end of all things being at hand” is difficult for us to grasp. We confess that what Jesus has done, is doing, and will do; often are mere slogans, drowned out what we’ve done, are doing, and will do.

Father, we pray that our engagement with the world today—our spouses, our opportunities, our roommates, our difficulties, our bosses, our daily tasks, our friends, our aspirations, our co-workers, our frustrations, our neighbors, our societal ills, our family—would weighed through the reality of Jesus’ overcoming. That we would live as if indeed, every divine, every authority, every power is subject to him. And that, because he reigns, we would live with a balanced, gentle temperedness. Responding with the emotions, passions, strength, and actions, appropriate to the flourishing of each.

Father, we pray that we’d be wide away to the way you are making all things new through Jesus. That we would not be caught off guard by our expectations, by your validating tests, by our own sin, or by the enemies efforts. Grant us persevering patience throughout our journey.

Thank you that the difficulty of living amid the “and” is but “a little while,” and that you are the “God of grace, who has called us to your eternal glory in Jesus, who will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us,” forever and ever. Amen.

Praying for Right Aim

The term “sin” in Hebrew means “missing the mark,” not quite hitting the bullseye on the target of life in its fullest, life in the goodness of God’s creation and intimacy. In one way or another, we are all after not sinning, wanting to hit the mark of life as it’s meant to be and can be. The irony is, the way we continuously hit the mark is through suffering like Jesus. As Peter put it, “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh for us—the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones so that he might bring us to God—arm yourself with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” Suffering like Jesus—submitting, serving, and sacrificing—for the sake of bringing others into right relationship with the Father, keeps us on target. Let’s pray together for the right aim.

Father, thank you for sending your Son to show us how to live. Jesus, thank you for your life of submission, service, and sacrafice that is the power that allows us to live a full and forever life. Let us not see such suffering as a indication that we are missing the mark, but rather than are aim is true. Encourage us and empower us in your Spirit with the mind of Jesus so that in everything You may be glorified.

Becasue of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrction we pray. Amen.

Praying for Power

Did you know it takes inner strength, power even, to be a Jesus follower? To live life anew, holy, is not an exercise in weakness, even if meekness is its yield. This paradox is because to be people who walk daily in the presence of the Father requires a “boldness” and “confidence” that is not self-willed, but “realized in Christ Jesus…through our faith in him” (Eph. 3:11-12). But, if we are honest, there are times when we “lose heart,” lacking the strength to live out of the “power at work within us.” Our lack is not unique to our time and place in history; rather, it’s been a reality of our faith lineage from the beginning. So, let us bow our knees before our heavenly Father for one another this week, just as the apostle Paul did for his faith family (Eph. 3:14-21). Let’s pray.

Because we lose heart…we bow our knees before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, including our faith family, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant us to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ Jesus may dwell in our hearts through faith—that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints in our city, nation, world, and throughout history, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ Jesus that surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled with the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us, to be him be the glory in the Church and our church, and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen.

Joy In the Journey

The late 5th century bishop known as Saint David, once said to his fellow apprentices and pilgrims,

“Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed, and do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about, I walk the path that our fathers have trod before us.”

Knowing that others have followed the path we are taking is freeing. While our culture says that forging a new trail is ideal, Wisdom and Word have shown us that the ancient way is where we find our true selves and life in its fullest. The sureness of the path let’s us “be joyful” in the journey. Let us pray together for joy along the path others have trod before us.

Father, thank you that in Jesus we know the Way. And that in those men and women of faith who have followed him before us, we know the path is sure. Let such wisdom allow us to find joy in the journey. To not be anxious of where we might end up or if we’ll have what it takes to finish what you started. To not be fearful in the valleys or apathetic n the pastures. To not be frustrated and unsettled in the mundane. Rather, Father, let us know the joy of the little things, the daily interaction with you, the moment by moment acts of obedience, and the step-by-step nature of grace.

May Jesus’ joy be in us, and may our joy be full as we abide in your Word and in your love. Amen.

Enjoying What We See

There is an exhortation in the Jerusalem Talmud which says,

“Every man must render an account before God for all the good things he beheld in life and did not enjoy.”

Throughout our days, weeks, months, and years on this earth, there is an innumerable amount of good passing before our eyes. It is not enough that we merely acknowledge the presence of grace, but that we enjoy it. Delight in it. For in enjoying what is good, we learn to live worship. Let us pray together not just for eyes to see, but hearts and souls complete with joy.

Father, we thank you that grace and mercy, goodness and steadfastness follow us all the days of our living. Forgive us for being too busy to rest in such green pastures. Forgive us for being too satiated with every good gift that we cease to be amazed by grace. Forgive us for being too anxious and overwhelmed that we allow joy to be suffocated. Forgive us for being too distracted by what is next that we do not enjoy what is.

Grant us eyes to see your goodness in each day, and hearts and souls that overflow with the joy of it.

In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.

For Our Life Together

Jesus says that our life together is salt, drawing out the God-flavors in our homes, communities, and society. He says that our life together is a city set on a hill, a light on a lampstand, revealing the God-colors vivifying the life of our family, friends, and neighbors. This week, let us share in a collective prayer[4] for our life together.

As Abraham left his home and the security of all he had known to follow God,

So we lay down what is past and look to the future, to where Jesus is leading.

As Mary washed Jesus’ feet with oil and hair,

So we recognize that hope and healing come through death and resurrection.

As the disciples on the Emmaus road returned to Jerusalem to tell what had happened when Jesus walked with them, as John built up communities to hold fast to Jesus, and Paul traveled ever on,

So we open our lives, to share the lives of others and bless a wider world.

As Esther stepped out in faith for such a time as this,

So we take courage to do what Jesus leads us to do.

And as Jesus taught us, so we pray today and every day along the way:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread, and help us not fear that we’ll be lacking tomorrow.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

Now and forever.

Through Jesus.

Amen.

Ears with Eyes

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote to those following Jesus with him and others, saying,

“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship [of apprentices and pilgrims] consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins in listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the [faith family] is learning to listen to them.”

The question is, what are we listening for?

Well, as Psalm 139 reveals to us, we are listening to see, using our ears to awaken our eyes to God’s intimacy, action, and graciousness at work in the “them,” our brothers and sisters in Jesus. And when we listen to see, we can join in with what God is already at work doing, willing and working for their good pleasure (Phil. 2:12-13). The problem is, we tend to speak and act more speedily than we do listen, reversing the familial warning “be quick to listen, slow to speak” (Jam. 1:19).

To help us develop the habit of using our ears to aid our eyes, Julian of Norwich came up with a short exercise for our daily interactions: “I look at God. I look at you. I keep looking at God.”

This week, let’s pair a prayer with our eye exercise, employing it freely and often. Whenever we find ourselves in the company of others this week (friends, family, neighbors, spiritual companions), peek and pray:

"look at God," praying; Father, let me see you with us and for us, in our past and in your presence.

"look at you, (the other person)" praying; Holy Spirit, let me see your searching and leading in my friend's life.

"keep looking at God," praying; Jesus, let me see how I can join your way for their good.

Praying Like Family

“For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35) Jesus describes a family of faith as someone who “does the will of God,” his Father. The same fountain from which Jesus said flows his words and witness (Jn. 4:34, 5:19, 6:38, 14:31). To be a child of God is one who hears and responds to the Father’s desire for her or his life. And what does our Father desire for us? Only that we should “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8). While the spirit is willing, admittedly, the flesh is weak in carrying out our Father’s desire, so let us pray together these words adapted from John Ballie. A prayer from his children to live like his family.

Father, you are most wise, most great, and most holy. In wisdom and power and tender mercy you created us in your image. You have given us this life, you have given us all we have, and you know where and how we live. You have surrounded us with gracious gifts and situations. You have written your law within our hearts.

And in our hearts’ most secret chamber you are waiting to meet and speak with us, freely offering us your fellowship in spite of all we have done wrong. Help us to take this open road to peace of mind. Help us to approach your presence with humility and reverence, carrying with us the Spirit of Jesus. Help us to leave behind all anxieties, all wrong desires, all thoughts of malice toward others, and all hesitancy to surrender our will to yours.

In your will, O Father, is our peace.

You are what our hearts desire most.

Whom have we in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that we desire other than you.

In your presence, O God, we cannot think only of ourselves, but also of others:

Of our friends and family of faith, especially of _____ and _____;

Of those we have worked alongside and played with this week;

Of those who are in sorrow;

Of those who are bearing the burdens of others;

Of those who are alone in difficult or remote situations, working in lonely outposts of your kingdom.

You are the one God and Father of us all; be near us this coming week and graciously watch over our faith family. Hear our prayer for Jesus’ sake. Amen.