In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus goes directly to the heart of what keeps us from experiencing the fullness of the realities inherent in our Father’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, namely, our heart. So this week, we join together in prayer for a heart in-beat with our Father’s through these words adapted from John Bailie.
Let’s pray.
O Father, you are the only origin of all that is good and fair and true; to you we lift up our souls.
O Father, send your Spirit now to enter our hearts.
Now as we pray this prayer for ourselves and one another, do not let any room within us be secretly closed to keep you out.
O Father, give us the power to pursue only what is good.
Now as we pray this prayer for ourselves and one another, banish any evil purpose or plan that lurks in our hearts waiting for an opportunity to be fulfilled.
O Father, bless all our plans and work, and help them to prosper according to your will.
Now as we pray this prayer for ourselves and one another, do not let us hold on to any plan that we dare not ask you to bless.
O Father, give us purity of heart, a single-mindedness, and meekness.
Now as we pray this prayer for ourselves and one another, do not let us say to ourselves secretly, ‘But not yet’ or ‘But not too much.’
O Father, bless every member of this faith family.
Now as we pray for ourselves and one another, do not let us harbor in our hearts any jealousy, bitterness, or anger toward one another.
O Father, bless our enemies and all those who have done us wrong.
Now as we pray for ourselves and one another, do not let us cherish in our hearts the intention to pay the back as soon as we get an opportunity.
O Father, let your Kingdom come on earth.
Now as we pray for ourselves and one another, do not let us still intend in our hearts to devote our best hours and years to the service of lesser goals.
O Holy Spirit of our Father, as we finish this time of prayer for ourselves and one another, do not let us return to evil thoughts and the ways of the world, but let the same heart be in us that was in Christ Jesus, our LORD. Amen.