Father in Heaven,
May I follow the Way of Jesus
In living simply.
May simplicity bring clarity,
And the capacity to be present
To people, my practice, and this place.
May I not be consumed in consuming,
Trust the lie that more is better,
Or be ruled by the tyranny of excess.
May I resist the impulse to purchase,
And instead, practice gratitude for
All I have that cannot be bought.
Help me uncomplicate and untangle my life,
So, I may invest in what matters most.
May I trust the contentment I desire
Is found not in what I have, but in who I am.
And, who I am, is your Beloved.
May I learn the priceless gift of letting go,
And possess the joy that comes only from generosity.
May my home and heart not be crowded,
But may I live with simplicity,
And singleness of heart.
Amen.
Other prayers to engage with place…
Father in Heaven,
Creator of all that is,
All that has been,
All that will ever be.
May we become more attuned to the history
And beautiful layers of life
That existed in this geography before us.
May we have a holy curiosity about this place:
Where our home was built,
Where our family sleeps,
And where we eat our daily meals.
Our Father,
We worship and praise You
As the Creator who worked for six days,
Using hours to build the world
In all of its beauty and brilliant majesty.
You rested and experienced joy in Your creation
Because it was good.
Creator and Good Shepherd,
You made the creatures we tend and the ground beneath their feet.
Before they belonged to our farms, businesses, or tables,
they belonged to You.
Lord God,
We pause in this moment to give You worthy recognition
For Your supreme sovereignty over all things.
We offer both acknowledgment and gratitude
For Your attentive, providential love and care
That You extend to us each day.
Dear God,
There are so many ordinary ways
To give and receive your love.
From the cuddles of our kids.
From the laughter of a dear friend.
From holding the hand of a spouse.
Teach me today
To give and receive
Your love as a neighbor.
Father in Heaven,
With August’s arrival,
The morning sunlight beams
Come later through the windows.
May we rest in your great faithfulness,
Remember that your steadfast love never ceases;
And Your mercies never come to an end.