Friday January 29, 2021

In the busyness of our everyday lives, we often fail to prepare our hearts and minds for reading God’s word and experience God in this time. Take a moment to allow this prayer to lead you into your time with God today.

As I enter into this time of prayer and reflection, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.

Holy and loving God, in this new season I invite you to shape my soul with your words and inspire my life with your works. Teach me to walk in the way of peace and grace. AMEN.

Matthew 5:1-2; 6

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said:
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

We rarely think about hunger as something to seek. Instead, we see it as something to avoid. For most it is something we have rarely – if ever – physically experienced in a significant way. On the other hand, if you have ever done an intentional fast, you have felt your body’s physical response. You know the ache.

Jesus blesses those who hunger for righteousness – those who desire to live in right relationship with God and for the world to be set right again. Do you feel a hunger today? What is the hunger of your heart? Are you aching for a loved one? For their healing, their restoration, your hope that they might find a better way, a new life in Christ? Instead of asking God to meet your needs, would you be willing to pray for God to bless you with a holy hunger today?

Father, help me to live this day to the full, being true to You, in every way.

Spirit, help me to love the lost, proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.
Amen.

*Our opening and closing prayers are adapted from Lectio365, a mobile application developed by the 24-7 Prayer Network. To find out more about this resource, visit this link.