Midday Prayer Opening O Lord, open my lips And my mouth will declare Your praise. Make haste, O God, to deliver me; Make haste to help me, O Lord. Candle Lighting Prayer of Approach (from St. Augustine) Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, to love what is holy. Psalm Reading - Psalm 117 - NLT (Pentecost) Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord! Scripture Reading - Matthew 7:24-25 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. Silent Meditation on God’s Word As we enter this time of meditation on God’s Word, we pause to be still, to breathe slowly, to re-center our scattered senses on the presence of God, and to take a moment of silent prayer to ask the Holy Spirit to speak clearly to us through His Word. -Pause- As I read our text for today, listen for one word or phrase that is being spoken by God to you. Ask yourself: Through which word or phrase is God wanting to speak to me today? Allow that word or phrase to guide your meditation today. Repeat it over and over in your mind. Let it wash over you. Let it fill you. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. As the Holy Spirit speaks to You today through His Word, take a moment now to pause and repeat that word over and over in your mind as you allow God’s Word to wash over you and fill you. -Pause- Now we reflect on the word or phrase that God is highlighting for us today. Ask yourself: What part of my life needs to hear this word from God? The Spirit has highlighted something in this text for you today. What part of you really needs to hear that? Here, I will read the text again, and then we will have a longer time of silence to reflect on what God is highlighting for you today. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. Take a moment now to pause and consider: What part of your life needs to hear this word from God today? -Pause- Now we respond to God’s Word. As yourself, What is my response to God based on what I have encountered in His Word? Because God speaks to us all in different ways, your response can also take on many different forms. Maybe that response is in the form of a prayer. Use this time to thank and praise God. Speak to and listen to Him. Ask Him for something. Allow your prayer to flow from your heart freely and fully. Or maybe God is reminding you of something. Maybe He’s reminding you of your identity in Him. Or of His promises. Or of His presence in your life. And so I encourage you to sit in that reminder. Or is God inviting you to respond in some physical way to the word that you have heard? Maybe it’s an encouragement to keep doing what you’re doing. Maybe it’s an encouragement to stop doing what you’re doing. Maybe it’s an encouragement to start doing something new. We hear God's Word and respond to it. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. Take a moment now to pause and consider: What is your response to God based on what you have encountered in His Word? -Pause- And now we rest in God’s Word. We have read God’s Word. We have reflected on it. You have responded to it. Now we return to a place of rest. Remember that this rest is not based on your works. It is not based on your response to God’s Word. But today and every day, we can rest in God’s promises and His presence here with us today. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. Take a moment now to rest in God’s promises and His presence here with us today. -Pause- Lord’s Prayer Our Father who art in heaven: hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven: Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us: and lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Benediction Eternal Creator of light, Yours is the morning and Yours is the evening. Draw us to Yourself so there will be no darkness within us. Amen. Let us go in peace. Thanks be to God. *Liturgy was compiled using resources from Lectio 365 and Ruth Haley Barton's "Invitation to Retreat."
