Image from meganstrange.com
From our reading in Matthew 11 this morning, this prayer:
Lord Jesus, you better than anyone else, truly and genuinely understand our human condition. You felt great sadness at the arrest of your kinsman, John. You felt some distress at his doubt, but understood given where he found himself and what he knew was coming to end his life. You did so much to prove to him, and us, that You are Who You are, the Messiah: You gave new hope and wholeness to those in different situations, the blind saw, the lame walked, the lepers were made clean, the deaf heard, and the dead were raised. The good news were shared with the poor.
You have helped the spiritually blind to see new things and new possibilities; the ones paralyzed with fear and doubt unable to move forward, can now run to do that which You expect. The ones who felt unclean and unpresentable, now shine Your light and love. Those who were spiritually dead, now walk with new life. And we are still to preach and share the good news with those who have not yet heard nor received them.
We thank You for John's role and ministry that even today paves the way for You as we enter Advent and as we await Your second return.
We pray we would not be like those cities that saw and experienced great miracles and yet did not believe nor repent of their ways; help us to believe and be made right with You, for we have seen and experienced great things in our lives.
Lord, help us to hear and accept Your invitation to come to You, just as we are, weary and as burdened as we are, and we will truly find in You rest for our souls.
Help us to further Your work here on the earth.
In Thy precious and powerful name we pray, amen!