July 13 Prayer

Matthew 10:40-42
‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes Jesus’
Whatever you do with kindness you do to Jesus.
Whatever words of encouragement and affirmation you speak are his words.

What does it feel like to be welcomed? To have your words received and appreciated?

In Isaiah 55:10-11 God speaks of his words being like rain and snow to water the ground causing it to become fertile. The soil allows the seeds to grow and mature into fruit and the fruit provides food for the next planting. It’s one big life cycle.

How do our acts and our words bring nourishment to others?
Are we being received as Jesus or should I ask if we are receiving enough of the word of Jesus in us that we can become the word for others?

It starts with the little seed
The cup of water that Jesus speaks about giving to the others.
The little things with great love that we do without seeking a reward.
Jesus says the reward we will receive is the prophet's reward and that reward is for us to feel the heart of God and see with the eyes of God .
This might be a scary thought to enter this close to God but if that is his call to his followers then we must pay attention enough to listen, really listen and seek the wisdom he freely gives us.

His word will accomplish that which he has intended it to accomplish. We only need to allow him to do the work through us.

Let it begin with a simple prayer of acceptance and surrender to the one who loves us and wants us to succeed in everything we are called to do. Return again to your own ground where the rain of his word will begin to fall.

Pause to Pray

Lord, we thank you that you welcome us freely and listen to our hearts .
You know exactly what we need to be nourished and fed this day so we may grow and bear fruit to provide seed for others to grow.

We allow your creative power to flow through us in new ways with a new language to call out life in others.
To give a cup of cool water to refresh and restore another through our welcoming hearts and listening ears.

May we each do little things with great love allowing your beautiful garden to grow.
Giving you all the glory of you kingdom here on earth.
For your hand is over ours as we do little things with great love and kindness.
We surrender to your great love to work through us this day.

Amen