Even today, amid the restrictions of our current circumstances, we will still have opportunities to make the world a better place. Pray this prayer adapted from John Ballie for your faith family and for yourself, and go about ‘the good works God has prepared before that we should walk in them.’
Lord of our lives, whose commands we are eager to keep, whose fellowship we are eager to enjoy, and to whose service we are eager to be loyal, we kneel before you as you send us out and have us stay-in to serve you.
Thank you, Father, for this new day, another week. For its gladness and brightness; for its many hours waiting to be filled with joyful and helpful labor; for its open doors of possibility; for its hope of new beginnings. Stir up in our hearts the desire to make the very most of today’s opportunities. Do not let us break any of yesterday’s promises, or leave unrepaired any of yesterday’s wrongs. Do not let us see anyone in distress and pass by on the other side. Give us the strength to confront any mountain of duty, gap of boredom, or bad habit. Where an action of ours can make this world a better place, where a word of ours can cheer a sad heart or strengthen a weak will, where a prayer of ours can serve Jesus’ kingdom, there let us act and speak and pray.
This day O Lord—
Give us courtesy;
Give us both gentleness of demeanor and decisiveness of character;
Give us patience;
Give us love;
Give us self-control and faithfulness in our relationships;
Give us sincerity in our speech;
Give us diligence in the work you have given us to do.
O Father, who when the time was right raised up our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to enlighten our hearts with the knowledge of your love, grant us the grace to be worthy of his name. Through Christ Jesus. Amen.