Prayer Tip-Restoring “Project Cars”
Daily Scripture
Psalm 51:10-12a (NRSV), Psalm 80:3 (NRSV) and Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NRSV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Occasionally I find myself flipping through photos of classic cars listed for sale online. Those great big Cadillacs from the mid-1970’s really turn my head. I confess to sometimes imagining myself pulling up to work in a baby blue ‘76 Cadillac Eldorado. I love the “ride” of these large cars and their legendary beauty. One of the things that keeps me from realizing my dream of owning one is my lack of mechanical knowledge. Should I ever buy my own “land yacht,” it will be after someone with the skills and the patience has rebuilt it back to perfection.
Thankfully, our relationship with God isn’t like the one I have with classic cars—I often only see the outer beauty without respecting what is under the hood. I have neither the patience nor the knowledge to restore an old car. But God loves us as we are right now, and God also loves us enough to re-order and re-shape our lives into the person we are divinely called to be. The Scriptures we read today are the prayer of someone who trusts that God has a greater vision for their lives and can lead them to the renewal and restoration that they’re seeking. What in your life needs some renewal and restoration? The transformative love and grace of God is at work in your life and in the world—and it can make such a difference in your life today.
Prayer Tip: Scripture itself can be your prayer today. Re-read Psalm 51:10, aloud if you can. Imagine that God is patiently listening to you as you speak it. Try to repeat it several times today.
Prayer
Transforming God, thank you for your love for me, my family, and the world. Thank you for loving us just as we are, and for calling us to grow more like you each day. Create in me a clean heart, restore those things that are broken in my life, and help me be a part of your renewing power in the world. In your name I pray, Amen.
GPS Insights
Michael Dunlap
This week's prayer tip is by Michael Dunlap who serves as the Director of Funerals at Resurrection. Michael enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and reading about history.
