Monday January 11, 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.

*This prayer adapted from Lectio365, a mobile application developed by the 24-7 Prayer Network. To find out more about this resource, visit this link.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

This weekend we began a six-week series entitled, New Year, New World, New Church. We share a sense of relief after leaving 2020 behind, but also recognize that “New’ does not just happen to you. New is something that you step into.”

Yesterday I shared my hope that the word GRACE would serve as our central focus as we move into this new year together. After everything we experienced in the previous year, we look to GRACE to soften our hearts by renewing the kindness and compassion that Paul describes here in this verse I want to challenge you to memorize this week.

Starting today, begin reflecting on where your heart needs to be softened, the places in your life where grace most desperately needs to be received, and who in your life you need to extend grace to right now.

When you are finished with your time of reflection and before you close in prayer, spend a few moments committing the word of Ephesians 4:32 to memory.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Loving God, thank you for your gift of grace made available to me through the work of Jesus Christ. I pray for the power of your grace to be unleashed in my life that it may soften my heart. May the grace received in my life be expressed through my life in everything I do and say this day. AMEN.