With New Eyes

With New Eyes
SEDL Prayer Session • 04 January 2005

John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” (John 1: 29-34)

Grace:
Lord Jesus, we beg for the grace of new eyes. Grant us new sight to see you in the faces and the features of other persons. That as we begin this New Year with much vigor and renewed strength, we may all the more experience your presence in the lives of the people we encounter, work with and live with.

Points for Prayer:
1. Take time to pray to your God this week. Try to commit yourself to a routine of prayer. Ten to fifteen minutes a day – no more, no less.
2. Try meditating on the passage above. Read the passage slowly. Allow the words to wash over you. Savor each word. Stay with the words that especially catch your attention. Absorb them the way the thirsty earth receives the rain. Repeat the words or phrases, aware of the feelings that are awakened in you. Read and reread the passage lovingly as you would a letter from a dear friend, or a sweet lover, or your spouse.
3. “Prayer is our personal response to God’s presence. We approach the Lord reverently with a listening heart. God speaks first. In prayer, we acknowledge the Divine Presence and in gratitude respond to God in love. The focus is always on God and on what God does.” How was God actively present in my life, especially in the year that just passed? You might want to journal or to write in your diary the fruits of your prayer.
4. End with the Our Father.


For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. Flowers are appearing on earth. The season of glad songs has come, the cooing of the turtledove is heard in our land (Song of Songs 2: 11-12).