Prayer from March 17, 2022

 Lord, 

Sitting on the porch this morning, reflecting on who you are, reflecting on the world, it made me start to think about heaven: 

how beautiful it will be to sit across from someone completely different than me, to hear their story about how you worked great in miracles in their lives, to consider how this person is family, to celebrate in joy along with you like people celebrate at weddings, to feast and share with one another.

Lord, one thing I love about the gospel is how it can transform hearts...for you are gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness. You transformed my arrogant and skeptical heart. I was also surprised by joy. 

I read the news in the morning. I read my students' writing in the afternoon.
Our hearts need to know this joy, to experience your lovingkindness that knows no end.

God, look how you transformed Nebuchadnezzar's heart...or the hearts and minds of other ancient tyrannies...
Can you not still do so?
Is anything too small for you?

In Exodus 6, you remind a doubting and obstinate and fearful Moses of two things: your covenant and your personal name. 
(So, you remind him of a lot, but these two stood out to me.)

You introduce your personal name, your covenant, and Passover all within the span of a few chapters (a few weeks? months?). And then Jesus reminds us that he himself is the fulfillment of the Mosaic law and the prophets, that he himself is the image of the invisible God, Immanuel. 

Jesus, thank you for your death for my sins, for your forgiveness, for your resurrection in victory over sin and death, for your promise to be with me always, for your promise to heal and restore all things. I look forward in eager hope to the restoration of joy. 

Yet, for now, in a world desensitized to pain, injustice, I ask you to change hearts: leaders of nations, apathetic or anxious students, myself.

Holy Spirit, help me to think small--to consider even mundane and menial tasks as moments orchestrated by you. Help me to be open to your will for me today.

amen.