the heart, day 1

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
O God, in all ages you have imparted yourself to man and set alight the fire of faith in his heart, grant to me the faith which comes from search.  Cleanse my life from all that negates and crushes faith, and fill it with the purity and honesty that foster it.  Cleanse me from the evil which makes unbelief its friend, and drive it far from me, so that, being willing in all things to do your will, I may know the truth which shall set me free.  Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen. (Daily Prayer Companion  by Samuel M. Shoemaker)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 73

Scripture for the Day: Jeremiah 29:4-14

Reading for Reflection:

There is a spiritual dimension to this external world in our desire to do good works, but communion with God is often replaced by activity for God.  There is little time in this outer world for deep questions.  Given the right plan, everything can be managed...except the heart.
     The inner life, the story of our heart, is the life of the deep places within us, our passions and dreams, our fears and our deepest wounds.  It is the unseen life, the mystery within—what Frederick Buechner calls our "shimmering self."  It cannot be managed like a corporation.  The heart does not respond to principles and programs; it seeks not efficiency, but passion.  Art, poetry, beauty, mystery, ecstasy:  these are what rouse the heart.  Indeed, they are the language that must be spoken if one wishes to communicate with the heart.  It is why Jesus so often taught and related to people by telling stories and asking questions.  His desire was not just to engage their intellects but to capture their hearts. (The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge)


Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: Greater Than Our Hearts

Chorus: You who are greater than our hearts,
Come make your faithful mercies known,
The mind of Christ to us impart
Your constant mind in us be shown

O let us by your cross abide,
You, only you, resolved to know
The Lamb for sinners crucified,
A world to save from endless woe

Repeat Chorus

Take us into your people's rest,
And we from our own works shall cease
With your meek Spirit arm our breast,
And keep our minds in perfect peace

Repeat Chorus

Jesus, for this we calmly wait,
O let our eyes behold you near
Hurry to make our heaven complete,
Appear, our glorious God, appear

Repeat Chorus

  Closing Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I ask you to come and lead me on this journey for my heart and for yours.  Be my Guide, and help me recover the lost life of my heart.  When I am confused, grant me clarity and insight.  When I am fearful and tempted to give up or check out, grant me courage to press on. When I am impatient or distracted, bring me back to what matters most.  When I am hurting, comfort me.  But in all, I pray you to restore me to fullness of the heart you set within me.  In your name I pray.  Amen. (The Sacred Romance Workbook by John Eldredge)