St. Paul’s Cycle of Prayer: Wednesday – Paul’s Place after school program and the St. Paul’s Day School

The Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist

(this post was written 6/24 but I didn’t realize it was not published)

I found a seat at the gate of my connecting flight in the Atlanta airport, waiting to wing out to Salt Lake City and General Convention. I had time, so I pulled out my phone and used the Mission St. Clare app to say Morning Prayer.

They include this prayer at the end of today’s office:

Almighty and eternal God, 

so draw our hearts to you, 

so guide our minds, 

so fill our imaginations, 

so control our wills, 

that we may be wholly yours, 

utterly dedicated unto you; 

and then use us, we pray you, as you will, 

and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; 

through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Isn’t this just what the Baptizer did? He knew he must decrease so Christ could increase. He didn’t want the spotlight or the accolades or the credit. He wanted to make a way for Jesus. A good lesson for all pastors (looking at you, TV preachers with way better hair than me!).

May we all do the same