Sunday Prayer May 12, 2024

Sunday Prayer for the Chaplain + Deacon + Pastor

God,

Help me to overhear today that through Jesus, you protect me. You know the world you created and have given me the great gift of living in it. And. Oh, and that’s a BIG and. And you know how broken it all is. So guard my heart today, God. But not in the un-feeling way, but in the way that it allows it to break and to continue to love despite all of the ands. All of the brokenness. It’s so easy to take it all so personally and to be brought low by all the ways we can pull each other down. Don’t let me be a puller today, at least not in the downward way. Remind me that I am one with you and that I am yours. That your very identity and your Good News- your love and mercy is for me. Because when I remember that, I can let go of the things that threaten my identity, my sense of belonging, my belovedness. All from you. And your faithfulness is not threatened by my failing heart. By the overwhelming nature of the world on fire. You remain faithful. Loving. Merciful. You see well beyond what I can see. Thank God!

Thank you, God, for sending Jesus who mothers me, who fathers me, who parents me. Who advocates for me. You’ve given me to so many others to love and who love me. You’ve given me the gift of relationship. And sometimes it is the thing that saves me. And sometimes it is the thing that threatens to un-do me. It is hard. And it is good. No matter what “Mothers Day” stirs up in me, you are the foundation of perfect love. So tend to my broken and beating heart. Stir up my gratitude or give me permission to grieve. Help me to forgive. Help me to accept forgiveness. All of it is caught up in your love. Open my eyes to see how complicated this day is for the people I love and serve. And give me the faith to name your love as the thing that saves them and me. And that no brunch or card or botched attempt to mark the day actually really matters.

Thank you for your love. Help me to love well today and forgive me when I don’t. Amen.

Take a deep breath, dear deacon, dear pastor, dear chaplain. For your labor in the Lord is not in vain.