This prayer came to me during the amazing sermon I listened to on the first Sunday of Advent. Its central theme was that we can invite Christ into every moment and situation with the simple words, “Come in, Lord!”
Essentially, this is the perfect, all-purpose arrow prayer. It asks Jesus to enter and share whatever we are preparing for, facing, experiencing, thinking, feeling, saying, or doing.
I was so touched by this simple spiritual practice that I immediately began to adopt it. As the day progressed, I quickly found that welcoming Jesus in with these words makes the reality of his constant presence much more vivid for me. This instantly increases my sense of our togetherness, as we share whatever is happening at any moment.
My profound thanks to J, for their wonderful help and example to me, as well as for their superb insight and preaching.
So, here is the prayer which came to me during the sermon:
Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends (Revelation 3:20; NLT).
Come in, Lord!
Enter my mind and heart;
Come in, Lord, enter my soul.
Come in, and share my exile here –
Please come to make me whole.
Come in, Lord!
Enter my life each day;
Come in: don’t wait outside!
Come in, and share my hidden self –
Please come to be my Guide.
Come in, Lord!
Enter my loneliness,
My sorrow, and my pain.
Come in, despite my sinfulness –
And make me your domain.
All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them (John 14:23; NLT).
References
The LORD longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18; NIV).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
The LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).