Today is Monday the 30th of May, and this week as we move towards Pentecost, we continue to join Today is Tuesday the 31st of May and this week we are joining with Christians around the world for the global prayer initiative Thy Kingdom Come.
Between now and Pentecost Sunday, we are reflecting on 1 Peter with the Most Revd Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Together we are asking God to empower us afresh by His Spirit to be effective witnesses for Jesus.
As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.
Creator God, who formed humanity from dust, breathe in me again. Revive me and sanctify me by the power of Your Spirit. Set my heart on fire with the good news of Your gospel.
I choose to rejoice in God’s presence today, joining with the ancient praise of all God’s people in the words of Psalm 134…
Come, bless GOD,
Psalm 134 (MSG)
all you servants of GOD!
You priests of GOD, posted to the nightwatch
in GOD’s shrine,
Lift your praising hands to the Holy Place,
and bless GOD.
In turn, may GOD of Zion bless you—
GOD who made heaven and earth!
Today I return to the Apostle Peter’s first letter and reflect on his description of the Church…
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIVUK)
‘In this verse, we are called – perhaps challenged – to see ourselves not as the world sees us, but as God sees us. We are called to judge ourselves not according to the values which seem to matter most to the world – status, wealth, power – but according to God’s boundless love in Christ. Because of God’s work for us in Christ we are called worthy, loved, chosen. You are called worthy, loved, and chosen in the eyes of God.’ *
I imagine myself standing in front of a mirror or, if I can, I find one now. How do I see myself? How do I measure my worth?
God, help me to see myself through Your eyes. Worthy. Loved. Chosen.
I think of one of the people I’m praying for throughout the eleven days of Thy Kingdom Come. Someone who hasn’t yet experienced God’s love for themselves. How do they see and define themselves?
God, help me to show them how You see them, and just how much You love them. Invite them to take their place among Your chosen people.
As I return to the passage I listen for a particular word or phrase that the Holy Spirit is highlighting to me today…
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIVUK)
What word or phrase did I notice in this passage?
I was struck by the command to, ‘declare the praises of Him who called [me]’. I am chosen for a purpose. As Psalm 134 puts it, I am made to bless God. How can I praise and bless Him today?
Jesus, because of You I am welcomed into God’s people. I am imperfect. I make mistakes. You love me just as I am, but You promise not to leave me the way I am. You’ve chosen me and You’re changing me, bringing out Your image in me, a little clearer each day. Thank you!
And now, as I prepare to take this time of prayer into the coming day, the Lord who loves me says in Hebrews:
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 (NIVUK)
Father, help me to live this day to the full,
being true to You, in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others,
being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost,
proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.
Amen.
*Archbishop Justin Welby, Thy Kingdom Come: Novena, Reflections on 1 Peter, (London: Church House Publishing 2022), Day 5, p. 14
For more information and further prayer resources visit Thy Kingdom Come