Lord Jesus, thank you for stopping by our church today. It’s always good to see you. It’s our greatest desire that every part of our worship service including our prayers, our scripture readings, the sermon, the special music, the hymns, our offerings, and our fellowship convey just how much we love and honor you. And why wouldn’t this be our greatest desire since you lived, died, and rose again for our sake and for the sake of the world.
Like Mary from our Gospel reading, may we always offer to you the better part of who we are and give you our full attention. And whenever we do allow the distractions around us to get in the way of our relationship with you, remind us to turn our eyes upon you as our hymn writer says.
We turn our eyes upon you as we offer to you those distractions that we have allowed to keep us from seeing you this past week. Teach us how we might keep our eyes upon you in the midst of the noise, our busy schedules, and the worries of the day.
We turn our eyes upon you as we lift up to you people on our hearts and mind who are in need of healing, protection, guidance, compassion, and reassurance. Renew and strengthen them in whatever challenges and needs they may be facing.
Thank you for the many ways that you help us to turn our eyes upon you like when we hear a song that awakens our souls, or enjoying a peaceful walk in the park, or taking a few moments of quiet reflection and prayer before beginning our day, or just by doing a little less talking and a lot more listening.
Lord, Jesus, you gave us a wonderful example of what it means to offer the better part of who we are when you taught us to turn our eyes upon our Heavenly Father and pray this prayer together…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
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