This week Jenna and John Perrine created this useful tool for our tribe to use at home and throughout the week in light of Steve’s teaching on the Now and the Not Yet.
This past Sunday Steve invited us all to notice, pray, and live out the Kingdom and Will of God in our daily lives.
In order to help all of you as you practice throughout your week, we wanted to offer you this personal prayer litany to use at home as you notice and pray for the Kingdom of God. We hope you can use these guiding words to continue identifying any invitations from God in your family, work or world where you can create cracks for the kingdom of heaven to break through.
As my husband and I were writing this prayer litany for you, we wanted to offer some of the pictures that Jesus shared throughout his ministry that described the Kingdom so you can better picture how it would look in your life. Jesus would often use simple stories called parables to help illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, and throughout the Gospels there are many parables that he used to talk about The Kingdom and God’s Will which we will lead you through below.
We also thought that a beautiful way for you to respond throughout this prayer litany would be to use the practice of breath prayer that Joan taught us about last week, you will breathe in “May your kingdom come” and breathe out “on earth as it is in heaven” to help align yourself with Christ’s Kingdom Purpose.
So sit back at your desk, your favorite chair or wherever you are – play a song (perhaps by our dear friends The Brilliance) or enjoy the silence to help quiet your heart as you read and pray through the following words.
A PERSONAL PRAYER LITANY FOR
GOD’S KINGDOM TO COME AND HIS WILL TO BE DONE
The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field; though being the smallest of the seeds, when it grows transforms into the largest of trees. (Matthew 13:31) The Kingdom of God comes through Jesus in small and unexpected ways, silent, soft, and slow to rescue, but even now is growing and will one day be fully realized in his reign.
Lord may you help me to see the mustard seeds of your presence in my work, relationships, learning, parenting and the rhythms of my daily life.
Lord, I yearn for the day when your kingdom is fully realized into the mighty oak of Christ’s reign.
Breathe in: May your Kingdom Come
Breathe out: On Earth as it is in heaven
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a sower who sowed good seed in his field, only to have his enemy sow weeds among the wheat. (Matthew 13:24) Though both grow side by side, the master waits to harvest so that the weeds might be distinguished from the wheat.
Lord may I flourish as I work, compete, converse, learn and grow in this world side by side with those who do not love or know you as the Master you are.
Lord, I yearn to be the wheat of your good harvest, distinguished in your sight from the weeds of this world to be in eternal communion with you.
Breathe in: May your Kingdom Come
Breathe out: On Earth as it is in heaven
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a servant, who after being forgiven insurmountable debt by his king, refused to forgive his fellow servant over the small debt he was owed, and so was imprisoned by the king until he could repay his own debts. (Matthew 18:23) The kingdom of God comes when we, recognizing our own indebtedness, forgive our brothers and sisters of their debts against us.
Lord may you help me fully understand how deeply you have forgiven me so that I may forgive my parents, friends, coworkers, spouse, family, brothers and sisters of their wrongs against me.
Lord I yearn for the day when we all come face to face with the fullness of your forgiveness so that we may live in mercy and peace together.
Breathe in: May your Kingdom Come
Breathe out: On Earth as it is in heaven
The Will of God is like a good Samaritan, who seeing his enemy stripped and beaten on the side of the road, stopped to take pity on him, and to care for his needs. (Luke 10:25-37) God’s will is done when we act as neighbors to those whom we are taught to ignore, by uncomfortably sacrificing our time, efforts and resources for those who are in need.
Lord, may you reveal to me my prejudices and give me eyes to see the invisible people in my life, the homeless, the disenfranchised, the racially different, the immigrants, who need my love, resources and care.
Lord I yearn for the day where all prejudice is stripped away and we embrace and care for all your sons and daughters with greatest abandon, sacrifice and love.
Breathe in: May your Will be done
Breathe out: On Earth as it is in heaven
The Will of God is like a man who finding treasure hidden in a field, with joy sold all he had to in order to purchase what he knew to be of greatest value. (Matthew 13:44) God’s will is done when we joyously release all that we have in this world in faith that our greatest treasure is found in Christ.
Lord, may you give me freedom from my money, possessions, home, pride, titles, positions, idols and all that chains me to this world that I would be free to take up our cross and follow you.
Lord I yearn for the day that I am no longer tethered to the riches of this world and am instead free to rejoice fully in the greatest treasure that is eternal life through your Son Jesus Christ.
Breathe in: May your Will be done
Breathe out: On Earth as it is in heaven
The will of God is like a prodigal son, who after squandering his father’s inheritance, returns home to be lovingly embraced as the lost son who has now been found. (Luke 15:11-32) God’s will is done when we, though far from God are embraced by him as our loving father, and when we, as fellow brothers and sisters, graciously receive with God those who too have been lost.
Lord may you help me to know that in spite of my wandering, lusting, lying, self pursuit and manipulation of others, you stand with arms wide open in loving acceptance of me as your child.
Lord I yearn to one day be a part of your great feast, when all of your prodigal sons and daughters return.
Breathe in: May your Will be done
Breathe out: On Earth as it is in heaven
Now, perhaps take some space to write down or reflect on the following questions…
Are there any specific invitations from God for you right now to help His Kingdom come in your family?
Are there any specific invitations from God for you right now to help His Kingdom come in your work?
Are there any specific invitations from God for you right now to help His Kingdom come in your work?
Father may I be your child on earth who creates cracks for your Kingdom to break through into the here and now. May your Kingdom Come. May your Will be done. On the Earth you have created as it is in Heaven where you are.
Amen.
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