Opening Prayer
God of Trouble and Challenge, sometimes You are so difficult to follow and love. There is always a price for listening to Your Voice and walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Through Jeremiah, You encourage us to be strong amid times of trial. You remind us that we will not be overcome. You speak the word of trust: that You will deliver us no matter how challenging and threatening is our journey. But sometimes we feel so weak and powerless. Help us to be like John the Baptizer. He named and claimed Jesus as the Messiah. Help us to name and claim the presence of Jesus within, around and beyond us. John called people to repentance and openness to Your saving presence, in strange, wonderful and challenging ways. As John paid the price for speaking the truth You spoke in his heart, help us to lose our hearts and heads over love of You – and in following Jesus. Empower us to pay the price of discipleship.
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