Prayer to Keep on Learning Every Day And Putting New Lessons Into Practice

 KEEP ON BEING A LEARNER

 Around the world scientists are working hard to develop both a vaccine against COVID-19 and therapeutic treatments for those who fall sick with this virus.  They are learning new things every day, some of which is built on the lessons learned during the SARS epidemic in 2003.  It doesn’t seem that long ago does it that SARS was a threat.  A number of vaccine trials have had to be put on pause in recent times because they need to investigate illnesses that study participants have gotten and learn what the actual cause of these problems is.

 Although we are clearly in the second wave of the pandemic health officials keep reassuring us that we know so much more now than we did back in February or March.  We’ve learned a lot about how the virus is spread and what we can do to contain it.  We’ve learned what some tools are to help managing things in the community like contact tracing and physical distancing.  We are learning every day the impact that poor choices have on rising case numbers.

 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.  Matthew 11:1

 Jesus calls us to be learners.  He instructed his first disciples and He instructs us how to be effective followers and ministers in His name.  We pray today to learn our lessons well and serve God faithfully.

 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

 Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world and we know that we need to follow You and learn every day better and better what that means as we apply Your truth to  our lives in these very confusing times.

 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 12:26

 Lord Jesus, we give ourselves to You today to spend time with You, to get to know You, to follow in Your way.  We want to be learners who not just get to know certain bits of information but who are actually living empowered to put these powerful lessons into practice.

 Every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” Matthew 15:52

 Lord, some of us have been familiar with Your words for most of our lives but we pray today to look again at what You are saying so the freshness of Your truth touches our heart once again and the treasures You give us are like new.  Keep us from passing by amazing things because they are familiar words.  We want our hearts to be amazed again at who You are and all You have done for us.

 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.Matthew 16:24-25

 We confess that we live distracted by many things and using up huge chunks of time running after things that really have little or nothing to do with anything that matters.  Help us to filter out worthless activities and give ourselves fully to following You, knowing that even if it seems like we are losing out on some momentary conveniences or pleasures, in the long run we will experience fullness of life rather than emptiness.

 When your disciples thought they were better than others, You, their teacher, took a towel and a basin and washed their feet – the humblest of duties.  In doing that you reminded them and us:  

 “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:12b-17

 Help us to learn how to be humble disciples, always learning what it means to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbours as ourselves. 

 As we move into this new week I pray we will study well and learn much so we can be useful to God and others.