[15] When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
[16] A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
[17] He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
[18] Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.”
[19] (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.” John 21:15-19 – RSV
The work we have to do is not easy. We are attacked by the adversary, full of doubt, cast about. We are unsure of our footing. We watch evil prosper. We watch good men and women fail.
We see two young men expelled from the legislature. We see lives gunned down by those who no longer had hope in this world. We see reckless behavior on our city streets. We see a general incivility, applauded, and disrespect for our fellow man and life.
Tonight, Lord, I pray for those sinners who proclaim Christ, those who feel they have disappointed the Father, to know that they are loved. As Peter was reinstated, may they know that we are never too far gone to be separated from the love of Christ. In fact, they will be welcomed back by the Good Shepherd.
We lift up Memphis and pray for a spiritual awakening. We pray for church bodies and the body of Christ to come together in ways that show the world Your awesome love and glory. We pray for that love to spill over into our lives. We pray for the body of Christ to be caught doing something good like the ways elementary schools celebrate their students with joy.
Lord, we pray for the redemption of abandoned buildings, like the Sterrick Building downtown, and the work of Stuart Harris. May these shells of former greatness be revived. Lord, our city needs boldness and imagination. We need folks to step out in faith and do big things because You are not a boring God. Lord, in seeing new life come back, may it be an encouragement to those wondering if this life is all there is.
Lord, I pray for additional writers to cover this city in prayer through this website and for guidance in how to go forward. I’m feeling run down and lacking in my ability to post consistently. May it never be a post to be seen, like a pharisee on a Jerusalem street corner, but a true seeking of You for the children of God in Memphis and the surrounding area. Bring forth fellow believers to walk together. In Your name, Amen.