A Foot-Washing Prayer

Scripture: If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ... Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. John 13:14-16,20

Observation:

Application:

Prayer: Lord, my family is tired to the point of being non-functional. We are not sleeping, we are not playing, we are barely talking, and we are not celebrating. We have not had time together with each other, and we have not had time with our friends, and we have not had time with you. Every night we are serving until we are tired and sore and cold until we can only sleep.

And then every night, you send us even more. You don't send dozens more, you send hundreds and thousands more. You send the meek, you send the powerful, you send the foreigners, you send the neighbors, you send the faithful, and you send the hate filled. We greet them with smiles, candy canes, cookies, and lights, and we try to send them off with love, friendship, and an invitation to start to know you better. In other words, we strive to receive them and wash their feet. You already love them so much more than that ... you would wash their feet, but you also already died for them.

Please, lord, be with my family tonight. Give us your strength - please give to us not as the world gives, but with your love and strength - so that we may further serve those that you send. For hours on end, bring them to your place, and let us receive them with a joy they know cannot be of this world, so that they become curious of the love of Jesus. Help us to just do the simple acts you have called us to. And lord, in the end, may you renew our strength as a family. Please give us your love and grace in our recovery so that we may celebrate you - our Lord God, and our Savior Jesus Christ - with songs and gladness and the love we have as a family.

In the wonderful name of Jesus I pray. Amen, and amen.