Hello,
And welcome to Methods,
An online experiment in guided prayer and meditation brought to you by The Restoration Project.
Each episode will focus on a different prayer practice or method,
But we hope to provide you with opportunities to praise,
To wonder,
To give thanks and confess,
And to contemplate the depths of God's goodness and mercy and mystery.
To aid in this process,
We invite you to silence your notifications and find a comfortable place to sit and reflect on God's presence.
Episode 4.
In the Gospel of Mark,
Jesus comes announcing the Kingdom of God,
Claiming the time has come,
The Kingdom of God has come near,
Repent and believe the good news.
Indeed,
Through his death and resurrection,
Jesus brings the Kingdom of God to earth,
Where we may not only experience it,
But participate in it as well.
Still,
For many of us,
When we look around at our world and feel as though the Kingdom is a figment,
A mere imaginative construct,
We long to become aware of its arrival,
Of its reality.
In this,
Perhaps it is best to follow Jesus' example,
Who when asked by his disciples,
Provided the following as a model of prayer.
Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
May we continue to pray for the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
In the following orienting prayer,
Consider the Kingdom of God and begin to formulate your request for its presence in your life and the lives of those around you.
When we're down and helpless,
When lies are raining,
When fear and indifference are growing,
May your kingdom come.
When joy is missing,
When love is missing,
And unbelief is growing,
May your kingdom come.
You You You You You You You You Into our hearts into our hands into our eyes your kingdom come soon I'm in despite our longing when we stop to contemplate the goodness of God and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the amazing gift of the spirit we are struck with a sense of gratitude Hear these words and grant yourself the freedom to express your thanksgiving.
We thank you God for this amazing day,
For the true dream of a cloud filled sky,
For the cool embrace of a comforting breeze,
For everything that is natural,
Everything that is alive,
Everything that is part of your dynamic creation.
You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You
