Each morning before General Synod gathers in Tucson, we’ll share with you a new prayer, devotional, or poem submitted by one of RfA’s board members, themed on the Fruits of the Spirit.
We also invite you to join us in praying for the delegates and members of the General Synod (the full list can be found here).
Today, we’re specifically holding those found on pages 8 and 9 in prayer (these include most of the delegates from the Regional Synod of the Far West and about half of the Regional Synod of the Great Lakes).
Our prayer today was submitted by board member Darren Major, themed on “joy.” He wrote this prayer for us, for you, and for the church:
Hey God, it’s us.
In one of your love letters to us, it is written:
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So God, thank you for giving us breath as a reminder to lean into the joy of life. As our chest rises with anointed wind, it represents your promise to be with us always and with an exhale…your living word is sent out and finds root in the lives of ALL your children.
Help all of us get it…as long as breath expands our chests…we have yet another chance to be your earthly presence. Yet another chance to get it right and sow seeds of joy into the lives of our siblings.
The siblings who are marginalized.
The siblings who are celebrated.
The siblings who are whole.
The siblings who are broken.
We are all recipients of your transformative love that surpasses all understanding. When we wake…Joy. When we gather…Joy. When we “be”…Joy. When we love each other…sho’ nuff Joy. For the sweet sweet gift of Joy, God we say Thank You.
So God, whatever we came here to get this morning…add more Joy to it…press it down, shake it up and have it running over cuz we know you are able to exceed our every expectation.
Jehovah Nissi, we thank You and in the name of Your baby boy, Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
Darren J. Major