A MORNING PRAYER

Good morning, Father! I come with joy into Your presence. What a privilege to enter where others might never come. It is all by Your doing, Lord. Your intiation, Your invitation, Your intercession, Your grace in which I now stand with peace facing you.

I realize, humbly, that billions of people will never be here, but I am. Why me, Lord? My intelligence has not brought me here, nor my wisdom, ingenuity or initiative. But YOU! Your sovereign thought and plan and work—creating me, calling me, saving me, indwelling me. What was needed in Your Body and divine plan to include me?

•        What gifting is needed to complete Your Body?
•        What service to be rendered?
•        What work to do, both now and eternally?
•        What worship and honor to give?
•        What witness to bear?
•         What people to disciple?
•         What words to write and songs to sing?
•         What wife to love and children and grandchildren to raise and shepherd?
•         What mission to fulfill?
•         What mornings am I to begin at Your feet?
•         What unceasing prayers to pray that honor You and bring You into the picture to glorify You in the domain You have entrusted to me?

Oh, Father, forgive me for all I have missed. But spur me on with discerning wisdom regarding the use of each of my remaining days. Call me higher into Your Presence and take me there by Your strong hand and providence, wisdom, and grace. As You have brought me here, despite my sin and weakness, take me closer to You, higher in purpose, greater in fulfillment of my unique role in glorifying You. And take me always lower in humility and selflessness, more consumed with You and others, so that all of my self-absorption will evaporate in the pursuit of You and Your gracious purposes.

Father, help me see all those around me through Your eyes, just as You, my Elder Brother, saw me and came to seek and save me. Help me love and value others and do all to help them to You, Divine Author and Architect of grace. “There are no ordinary people, no mere mortals,” as C.S. Lewis said. Help me see them with overwhelming clarity and the grace that springs from You. So that I may love and serve each one in my ordained reach and domain, Lord, empower me. Strengthen me to be the channel of Your purpose, to help them along to You.

I am overwhelmed, once again, by the height and depth, length and width of Your love. To be not only chosen by You, but grown and continually perfected by Your grace!

Perfect, creating and ordaining Father: selfless, redeeming Savior and Intercessor; precious, indwelling Spirit who forever resides in me to come alongside and lift the load, Great Comforter, in every way in the great task You have ordained: Arrest me afresh to be faithful and fruitful until death! Oh, how I love You!