Guided Prayer from the Beatitudes

(first used at Oak Hills Church on 9 September 2022)

Introduction

Jesus taught us to pray "your kingdom come, your will be done" because, although it was all around us, we aren't prepared for the ramifications of the upside-down ethic of God's kingdom. 

From our first breath, we learn to start building up our own kingdom of self - protecting it, reinforcing it, gaining allies for it - all for ourselves. But the kingdom of God, which overlays this world, takes ordinary people, ordinary places and ordinary circumstances and gives them eternal significance. Do we have the eyes to see? Or is our vision clouded by self, measuring every photograph, every memory, every relationship, every task by how it makes us look? [Are we content to sit around and pick blackberries from a bush that is actually aflame with the holy presence of God?]

This evening, we will take some time to pray through the Beatitudes (from the book of Matthew, chapter 5), which are all about Jesus' summary of the kingdom life-savor it and how contrary it is to our normal way of thinking

For each of the beatitudes, we will read the first half together and I will ask you to think of someone in your life who is described by the verse-some you know or someone you know of--and pray this blessing over them--agreeing with Jesus that they are indeed blessed. 

Then we will read each beatitude again, together, and conclude each with "Amen"-the word that in the Bible signals our agreement with God.

Readings

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the poor in spirit.  

LEADER: Think of someone who seems beaten up and pushed down by their situation in this world. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are those who mourn.

LEADER: Think of someone is living with the loss of someone who walked with them in life. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Amen

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the meek, 

LEADER: Think of someone is often easily intimidated and pushed around by the forces around them in this world. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Amen

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

LEADER: Think of someone who is frustrated with the way things are and longs for the way things ought to be. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Amen

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the merciful.

LEADER: Think of someone who seems able to extend grace, even when undeserved. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Amen

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the pure in heart. 

LEADER: Think of someone who seems genuine and innocent of deception, even in the face of manipulation and trickery. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Amen

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the peacemakers.

LEADER: Think of someone who always tries to bring people together instead of splitting them apart. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Amen

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.

LEADER: Think of someone living with the consequences of doing the right thing. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:          Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Let us all ask God to re-orient our hearts toward the life that Jesus called blessed by praying the Lord's prayer together. 

ALL:  

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, your will be done, 

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread 

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen