In this last week of the practice of confession and repentance, we want you to briefly think about your typical day, week, weekend, and month. As you think about what “your typical” looks like, write down possible spaces of time where complacency, comfort, and convenience take over possible times of Kingdom Commitment.
Examples:
- In the morning, I hit the snooze button more than I should.
- Instead of spending my first times of the day with the Lord, I check social media and email first.
- I use the excuse of spending time with my family on the weekends instead of participating in ministry opportunities.
- I tend to view my weekends as “me time” and I deserve some time to myself.
- I’ve raised my own kids—I don’t need to raise anyone else’s.
These are just a few thoughts that some have expressed over the past months. In a guided discussion, talk about the things that may be high-jacking Kingdom commitments in your day. In your week. In your month.
After discussion, read through the following prayer. We encourage you to insert your own thoughts by pausing briefly after each section.
Today, Lord, I once again take up my cross and follow you.
Complacency
Forgive me for choosing daily to be complacent. Happiness has been my god, and I have believed I’m entitled to it. Forgive me for all the excuses I have made for not responding to you immediately, urgently, and sacrificially. Forgive me for complaining about being bored as I sit and do nothing. Forgive me for choosing ways to escape instead of doing the work of the Kingdom.
Comfort
Forgive me for the times I’ve tried to make carrying my cross more comfortable. I have been too concerned with finding things to make it easier; gadgets and toys to make my cross lighter, smaller, and more cushioned. Forgive me for making excuses and not going with you, because I was worried about my health, safety, reputation, loneliness, financial security, cleanliness, or ability to handle difficult circumstances. Please forgive me for focusing on comfort rather than my character.
Convenience
Please forgive me, Lord, for the times I have not followed you, because it wasn’t convenient; when I didn’t want to go out of my way to see the needs around me, because then I would feel guilty for not doing something about them. Please forgive me for not loving my neighbors–I don’t even know their names. Please forgive me for being so busy with my priorities that I forget to meet with you, but then I squeeze a few verses in at the end of my day so that I can check devotions off my to-do list. Please forgive me for trying to pacify my conscience by giving just enough to feel good about myself but not enough to inconvenience my lifestyle.
Kingdom Commitment
Today, Lord, I once again commit to take up my cross and follow you. Shake me of my complacency; I want to live daily with an urgency to radically be the change you call me to be. Strip me of my comforts; may my love for you be the driving force to live with joyful surrender. Scratch out my schedule; I don’t want my circumstances or timeline to influence my dedication and obedience to take up my cross and follow you. Here I am. Send me.
May your Word pour out of me like water to the thirsty, and may my life be full of the fruit of the Spirit. All I am and have, I give back to you with open hands, knowing that you will meet all my needs as I go with you. Today, I take up my cross and commit to follow you.
In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
*This practice was adopted and amended from: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2014/08/prayer-of-commitment-to-follow-you.html
