Oh dear gracious God, you know every thought we have, both good and bad. You know the number of every hair on our heads, and every joy and sorrow of our hearts. There is no need for us to recite the litany of all that’s wrong in our world or in our lives. We know your big, loving heart must be breaking when you witness what humankind is doing to each other and to mother earth. So in this sacred moment help us repent of our own complicity in the materialism of our time. No matter how small or large our worship of the things of this world may be, we ask your forgiveness for all the times we pursue the idols of stuff that promise happiness but leave us hungering and thirsting for more.
Holy One, you know that Amazon Prime days and Power Ball billions will not satisfy the desire of our souls for the peace that passes human understanding. The Barbie movie, or a front row seat at a Super Bowl, or a Taylor Swift concert may be joyful experiences, but they are temporary, not the eternal peace that comes when we accept your invitation to share in the joy of your reign. That invitation comes with no price tag, but is a gift of grace, freely given. And yet it is so precious that it is worth giving up all that we are and all that we have.
We want to accept your gracious gift of eternal life, O God. We want it more than anything, but letting go of what we can see and touch for a spiritual kingdom that is unlike anything we have ever experienced is really hard. We want to trust you, God, we really do, but surrendering control of our lives to you requires a leap of faith that is scary. Remind us again today, dear Lord, of that great cloud of witnesses who have walked this way before us. Show us again we are not alone in this search for peace in the midst of the madness of a world marching to the loud beat of a drum that leads not toward your kingdom but in the opposite direction. As we ponder and pray for the childlike trust to take the hand of Jesus who is the way to eternal life, we offer heartfelt thanks for those kingdom people among us who live and breathe your Holy Spirit into those around them. They are Christ among us, and we renew our own commitment to be more like them and offer again a resounding “yes” to Jesus’ invitation to follow him. Amen
-Northwest United Methodist Church, July 23, 2023
Peacefully Harsh 