Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 81

A Collect to Not Miss the Spirit's Invitations and Gifts

Holy Spirit of God, whose comings and goings are known only to you, keep us alert for those moments when you appear to us, that we would not miss the invitations and gifts that you desire to give in your generosity and love, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in glory, now and forever. Amen.

'Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them.' - Luke 12:37

A Collect to be Ready for the Spirit's Call

Holy Spirit, who is ever at work in the world for your good pleasure, help us to be ready for when you appear, that we would be able to respond to your commands and invitations without delay and would be your hands and feet in the world, bringing about the good you have prepared for us in advance, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who abides in you and intercedes for us with the Father always. Amen.

"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks." - Luke 12:35-36

A Collect to Find Delight in Kingdom Values

Heavenly Father, who is endlessly happy and full of joy, draw our hearts toward treasures that cannot corrode or be taken from us, that we, like you, would delight in the values of your kingdom and your character and would discover abundant life in the love that you desire would fill the earth as the waters fill the seas, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who demonstrated perfect love and ascended to you and the Holy Spirit to live in perfect unity again. Amen.

'Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.' - Luke 12:33-34

A Collect to Trust in Kingdom Realities

Loving Father, who keeps watch over us like a shepherd with his flock, calm our fears and increase our trust in the worth of your kingdom, that we would not give in to anxiety and clutch at the things of this world, but would look forward to the good that is to come under your loving reign, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who rules with you and the Holy Spirit in majesty and love. Amen.

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." - Luke 12:32

A Collect to See Our Divisions

Lord Jesus Christ, by whose sacrifice all are welcomed into the Kingdom of God, show us the walls that we put up to separate ourselves from others, that we would know where we yet must tear down our divisions in order to love one another well as you have torn down the barrier between us and the Father in order to love us deeply, through you who reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit in perfect union, one God, now and forever. Amen.

'In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!' - Col. 3:11

A Collect to Know the Old Self to Put Off

Spirit of God, who is at work in our hearts for your good purposes, reveal to us how we yet cling to old ways of being that are not according to your design, that we would continually strip away these futile practices and make room to take on your ways of love, hope, and faith, through Jesus Christ our Lord who by you worked miracles and remained present to the Father until all were reunited in glory. Amen.

'Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.' - Col. 3:9-10

A Collect to Long for Heavenly Things

Christ Jesus, who is seated at the right hand of the Father, draw our hearts to long for those heavenly things which truly satisfy our souls, that we would seek lasting and perfect things that are ultimately found in you and discover true delight and joy in your love, through you who reigns in glory with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God, in light eternal. Amen.

'So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.' - Col. 3:1

A Collect to Attach to Things that Last

Lord of Heaven, whose nature is spirit and truth, teach us to attach to the things of heaven and to one another as the source of our happiness, that we would not be left barren and naked at the end of our days but be received into your arms with pleasures that will last in your eternal kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in perfect joy and love, world without end. Amen.

"And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'" - Luke 12:19-20

A Collect to Escape Self-Centeredness

Almighty God, who created us to share in your joys, keep our hearts always open to the lives and needs of others, that we would escape becoming trapped by our own pleasures and concerned for no one but ourselves, our worlds so small as to revolve only around ourselves, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who became one of us in order to gather us into your kingdom with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool!'" - Luke 12:19-20

A Collect for Contentment

Loving Father, who is patient with our failings, teach us to be content, that we would not become fixed on possessions and money, but would discover how to live well with the abundance you provide freely to your children, through Jesus Christ our Lord who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

'Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."' - Luke 12:13-15