Living with Christ Morning Prayer

Living with Christ Morning Prayer
January 11, 2014


A dispute arose...

Lord, Jesus, disputes seem
to be deeply imbedded in your people.
From the beginning we've argued and fought
over almost everything to do with faith and ritual.

Jesus, I know we argue about these things because
they are so important to us and our life in you.
Without different ideas and different approaches to practice
how would we move forward in our understanding?
How would we grow? What would we have to contribute
and pass on to the next generation?

Lord, when I am involved in disputes,
help me to act without nastiness and rancor.
Help me to be open to seeing through the eyes of others,
to recognize their good will even in the heat of argument,
and to always remember that your prayer is that we may all be one.

You are the unifying center of our faith, Jesus.
Help me-and all of us-to stand up for what we believe,
but help us to take John's words to heart:
we (and our will) must decrease,
and you must increase in our lives.

Jesus, give us the wisdom, grace, courage and compassion
to always be moving more deeply into you.
Amen.

For a prayer for today from Alcuin of York, see page 191 in the January issue of Living with Christ.