Wednesday September 9, 2020

Begin this new day by praying this prayer out loud. As you are able, consider kneeling as a physical expression of your commitment to Jesus as Lord of your life and the one you desire to lead you this day. Alternatively, you might consider placing a hand over your heart as you pray this prayer.

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

The Wesley Covenant Prayer was written by Rev. John Wesley, the 18th century Anglican priest who was the founder of the Methodist Movement.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything that you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23

While we often think of the heart as where emotions reside, the scriptures speak of the heart in a much broader way. The NIV Zondervan Study Bible has this note on Proverbs 2:10,

“The heart is the essence of the self and the spring from which a person’s life proceeds.”

Instead of seeing thoughts and feelings as separate categories in our life, the scriptures see these as wholly intertwined. This understanding of the heart brings richness to the simple prayer from Psalm 86:11,

“Lord, give me an undivided heart.”

Today I want to invite you to consider this broader understanding of that which Proverbs 4:23 challenges us to guard.

Is your heart a place of wholeness, a place of unity? Or would you describe your heart as conflicted or disturbed in any way?

Without being overly self-critical, talk to God today about your heart.

When you are finished with your time of reflection, close out this time with this prayer.

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose, through Jesus Christ my Lord. AMEN.