LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. Ps. 16:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.“ Heb. 13:5
Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. Ps. 73:25
Heavenly Father, typically, ours is a world of aspiring and acquiring, much noise and constant motion. But this pandemic has disrupted so much of what we call normal, and assume to be our right and future. We dare not waste this opportunity to re-think, re-access, and re-value what really matters to us.
Father, we’d love our lives to be marked by less fear and more faith, less activity and more adoration, less second-guessing and more “first love” for you. By the power of the Gospel, free us to live more at pace of grace and the music of heaven, and less for things destined for the ash heap.
It’s easy to see how our driven-ness and busyness are rooted in pride, fear, and greed—the pride of having a bigger seat at the table, “FOMO”—the fear of missing out, and the greed of defining success as having “stuff.”
By the work of your Holy Spirit, change our price tags and what we call “treasure.” Show us the difference between trusting in our status and resting in Jesus. Forgive us for the ways we actually encourage burnout—at work, home, and church.
Forgive us for not being content with what we have. May knowing you (and being known by you), be our greatest joy and inheritance, our identity and security. Riches, recognition, and reputation make lousy gods and a shallow legacy.
As you show us more of the beauty and love of Jesus, topple the idols of our hearts. Help us slow down before we flame out. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ glorious and grace-full name.