Day 3 Focus: The Disciple’s Prayer (Provision)

Level 1: (5 Minutes) Sit quietly in a different spot today. Be conscious of your breath. In the Lord’s Prayer, we ask for “our daily bread.” Pause occasionally today to thank God for all the ways God supports us. Consider what it means to know we are enough and we have enough.

Level 2: (10 minutes) Do Level 1, then after Reading this daily scripture adaptation take 5 minutes to discern what word or phrase catches your interest: Adapted from Matthew 6:9-13. My Father in heaven, holy is Your Name. I am so grateful that Your kingdom has come through Your Son Jesus and that Your will is being done here on earth as in heaven. Provide for me the exact measure I need today to be able to carry out Your will – my measure of food, shelter, finances, patience, faith, kindness, wisdom, peace of mind, discernment, strength, healing, truth, and love. I thank You that You have forgiven all of my sins and ask that You will give me the empathy and love to forgive anyone who sins against me today. I claim Your protection from the temptations and schemes of the evil one. I acknowledge with deep reverence Your kingdom and power and glory forever. I boldly pray this prayer in the Name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen

A wise mentor once asked me if I knew I was enough. It really bothered me for days. What was she trying to tell me? I was working so hard to do my best. Then I realized she was telling me I did not have to improve—she wanted me to see my own worth. I want to share with you what she shared with me—namely that you are precious to God just as you are. We do not earn God’s love.

Level 3: (15 minutes) After pausing to breathe and reading the Scripture prayer, take 5 minutes to Write down what you discern that God is calling you to do.

Level 4: (30-60 minutes) At level 4 we are seeking to become a Beloved Community. We take seriously our responsibility to discern how God wants us to act. When I was growing up, during Lent we were expected and/or encouraged to “give up something.” The practice of fasting is useful and can help us to establish discipline. If you have decided to fast during Lent, I would love to hear what you are doing and what you are learning from that discipline. If you want to learn more about fasting, I recommend the chapter in Richard Foster’s book on fasting, Celebration of Discipline. He describes how spiritual fasting is not about gaining political power or attracting attention to a good cause (p. 48-49). He stresses that fasting can help us to see “[h]ow easily we begin to allow nonessentials to take precedence in our lives. How quickly we crave things we do not need once we are enslaved by them.” (p. 56) What stood out to me this morning from this prayer is how it addresses everything that is essential. It focuses on needs, not wants.

We are just beginning this journey together. My plan is to begin introducing each person in this group next week. I want to share your insights and seek to find what God is placing on our hearts that might move us to action. Please take time in the next week to send me an introductory description of yourself that I can share as we form a Beloved Community that seeks to reflect God’s love on earth as in heaven.