A Prayer

O God,

Put to death what is evil in us so that we might be more filled with your Spirit. Change our hearts that we might bear the Spirit's fruit. Help us love the church, the Body of Christ for whose sake the Spirit has given us His gifts. Open our mouths with the good news of life as the Spirit bears witness to Jesus through us. Use our hands and feet to do your will in caring for others.

To the glory of the Father, within the fellowship of the Spirit, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

This simple prayer calls for our best cooperation with the work of God in us and in the world. We have been invited in the love of the Father, the blood of Jesus and the open hand of the Spirit to join in the great work of bringing life to this world. Paul likens the invitation to an offer of adoption into the family of the Holy Trinity. We are adopted children invited to join the family business.

At our best we inadequately represent the character and interests of the Family. Our hearts are not as loving as the Father’s heart. Our will is not as obedient as the will of Son. Our desire for joyful connections with others is not nearly that of the Spirit. Still we are invited to open our churches, homes and hearts in response to the invitation to be God’s Family incarnate in the world.

Stunning.

In response to this invitation, we put to death what is evil in us, change our hearts to receive and respond to the Spirit, and open our mouths and our hands with good news. Here in the heart of Austin, God calls us. 

God bless us all.