A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis for September 11, 2020

September 11, 2020  A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis  During these difficult days, members of the Katahdin District of the New England Conference are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week.  You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions.  Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written,        "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So then, each of us will be accountable to God.                                                                                                                   Romans 14:1-12

Today’s prayer  Heavenly Father, We praise you for the gift of salvation and freedom in Christ. Forgive us when we have not responded with godly love towards our Christian brothers and sisters. Give us hearts that are sensitive to the hurts of others. Connect us as one body. Keep us humble. Stifle our criticisms of our friends, families, coworkers and neighbors while we are calling upon your name to receive mercy and grace. Now through the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray, not our will but yours be done. May we bring glory to you God through our thoughts, words, and actions. In Jesus’ name,                                                                                                              Amen. Kelli Mayfield, MD,  Orono UM