Prayer based on John 1:43-46 (Phillip tells Nathaniel about Jesus)

John 1:43-46
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’


Prayer
Holy God, I come to you with all my doubts, all my confusions. So many seem so sure of your promises. It seems like the Christian faith is more simple for them, that it works better for them than it has worked for me. O God, I have more than a few issues with you that remained unresolved. I have questions that you have not answered. Like Nathaniel questioning Phillip, I’ve got a lot to work on. But Phillip told Nathaniel to “Come and See” for himself. And here I am tonight. So, please Jesus, show me yourself. Amen

Prayer for Advent Based on John 1:19-28

Lord Jesus Christ, I confess to you that I have not lived my life, as John the Baptist lived his, to give witness to you.  I have sought to be the one who shines.  I have worried about what others thought of me.  I have carefully sculpted my persona.  I have set my goals and I have made my plans.  I have built my life as a carefully constructed house.  I have managed my relationships, and I have drawn people around me who have seen light in me and affirmed my light. [pause].  Lord, I’m exhausted.  I’m tired of trying to shine.  I’m tired of building my kingdom.  I’m tired of making my plans.  I’m tired of pretending to have the answers.  I’m tired of making people think well of me.  As John in the wilderness, help me to take up the easy burden of witnessing to your light, the true light, the light coming in to the world.  May my life bring glory to you.  May others glorify you because I have witnessed to your glory.  Amen.

Prayer for Advent Based on John 1:6-18

Holy God: I have always been looking for you.  I have always been searching for truth.  I have always been trying to know where I should go, what I should do, what life is really about.  I have shown the world a stiff upper lip.  I have acted so certain.  But, in my heart of hearts, I have been so unsure.  Are you there?  Do you care?  Do you hear me?  Do I hear you?  Is all my religious learning and doing good for anything?  “No one has ever seen God” said John.  I haven’t.  And yet, John said, “The Word became flesh” and “we have seen his glory.”  I’ve seen something that rings true in Jesus.  I’ve seen something that points me toward light, something that gives me a direction in the darkness.  If I can’t see you, thank you for letting me see the way to you in your son.  Amen.