Sunday Prayer 16 June 2024

Loving, Grace-filled God,

While I was sleeping, you were working on me. And on the world. In mysterious and miraculous ways – I don’t know how, but you do. Relentlessly. Faithfully. Teach me to sleep deeply in that endless trust that you are God and I am not. That there is nothing I can do to earn your love or discourage your love. In my helpless, vulnerable state of sleep, do your best, God! Help me to wake in the morning with renewed hope and an eye to be awestruck by what has grown and changed in me, in the world around me. Your creative mercy brings me to new life once again today, to do this work, to show this love for you. Wow. Help me receive it for myself first. Love from you. For me. It’s just really stunning how your love can change even me. So prepare my heart to love the difficult ones today. And the joyful ones. And the unknown ones who will come into my life today. Expand and grow my capacity for your love that knows no limits, no bounds. Help me catch my breath and take it in so I can breathe it out. Help me let go of my efforts equalling success or faithfulness. Evidence of your work is everywhere, without my meddling. Even my gifted meddling! You’re just you and that’s enough.

Help me to see your love breaking into the lives of the people closest to me. Let my anxieties and nerves around All The Sunday Things not be splashed all over them but given up to you so that I can love them, too. Thank you. Amen.

Take a deep breath, dear deacon, dear pastor, dear chaplain. For your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Don’t be afraid. God is with you.