Church: A place to grow

A prayer based on 1 Peter 1:22 - 2:12

Lord God,

You have spoken,

And your word has brought us to live.

We praise you for your living and enduring word.Word which nourishes and sustains us.

Word which causes us to grow.

You are building,

Taking

and placing us as living stones in your spiritual house.

We praise you for bringing us together as your people in this place,

For

making us a holy people, a royal priesthood,For giving us a song to sing, declaring your praise.

As you speak, we must listen.

Forgive us for hearing but not listening. For understanding but not responding.

As you build, we must not resist.Forgive us for running from where you place usFor mumbling and complaining against those you lay us alongside.

You call us to love one another deeply,

So help us to kill off all malice, deceit, hypocrisy and envy in our lives.May we not ignore issues or bear grudgesMay we not give up in the fight.May we show our love for each other, by taking this fight seriously,Standing alongside, supporting and encouraging, our fellow soliders.

May we crave your word.Cause us to taste your goodness afresh.May we never grow acustomed to that wonderful taste.May we savour you daily.

And so may we look, act and react more like your Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

In his name we pray,Amen.