Jan. 25, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis
During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, members of the Extended Cabinet and United Methodists across New England are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions.
Today’s prayer
Almighty and eternal God, we come before you today with a deep desire to know you, and to feel your loving embrace surround us. Calm our minds, and soothe our spirits as we sense your presence. We come as persons who have something to give to others and to you. Each of us are aware of our areas of strength and of our areas of failure. Speak to us through the “Nineveh moments” of life. You have called us to follow you, and your voice has been drowned out with the noise of our lives. Forgive us for not listening. Speak to us again in our moments of quietness, and remind us to slow down, to be silent, and to listen. Make yourself known to us anew. Transform our defeatist attitudes. Give us courage us to try new behaviors which are filled with purpose and love.
Lift our hearts to you today as the source of our strength and inspiration. We are give you thanks for the gift of another day, and we marvel at the many challenges and possibilities that lie within. Give us grateful hearts, O God for work to do, and for the strength with which to do it. Let your spirit push us onward and help us not to become distracted by difficulties. Help us instead to become inspired by what might be. Instill within each of us, a desire to face every challenge in life with the possibility of excelling, and turning adversity into victory. We thank you for your abiding presence as we life our voices in praise. Amen. “The longest, most arduous trip in the world is often the journey from head to heart. Until that round trip is completed, we remain at war with ourselves. And, of course, those at war with themselves are apt to make causalities of others, including friends and loved ones.” — Rev. Dr. William Sloane Coffin
By Rev. Dr. David V. Calhoun, Seacoast District Superintendent Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62:5-12 I Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20