Today, I want to offer something a little different. I want to offer you a guided meditation as our message and prayer. It’s an ancient form of prayer, practiced in many traditions, and today we offer it to the God we know in Christ. I invite you to read this slowly. Close your eyes as you are able and take the prayer into your heart. Begin by taking a couple of deep breaths. Breathe in God’s Spirit, breathe out. Breathe in God’s Spirit. Breathe out…

I invite you now to picture in your mind’s eye someone you love. This could be someone you know who needs healing, someone who is troubled, or someone who is carrying a lot on their plate… Get them in your mind’s eye, and ask: May God protect you… May God fill you with joy… May God give you health… May God give you peace… Continue to hold them in your mind. (You might even call them by name.) May you be protected… May you be joyful… May you be healthy… May you be at peace…

Now, this might be a little bit harder. I invite you to shift your focus for just a moment and offer these same prayers, these blessings, not to others, but to yourself. Say to yourself (and you might even call yourself by name): May God protect you… May God fill you with joy… May God give you health… May God give you peace… (pause a moment or two) May I be protected… May I be joyful… May I be healthy… May I be at peace… May I be protected… May I be joyful… May I be healthy… May I be at peace…

We offer you these our prayers today, in all humility and hope, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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