Standing at the Gate of Heaven:  A Pastoral Prayer (Inspired by Genesis 28:10-19a)

This is the gate of heaven… (Genesis 28:17b)

God,
Here we stand
Like Jacob
At the gate of heaven
Believing that the door is still ajar.
Coming to offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving
Like Jacob who poured the oil on the rock where he slept
And dreamed of angels
And an open heaven.

God,
We confess that there may be some in this building today
Who wonder if heaven is still open
And if you hear their prayers.
We also confess that others among us
May feel unworthy to speak your name in prayer.
But,
Here we are together Lord,
Standing before you in faith.

Reassure us all today,
That the same God who opened heaven
To a rascal like Jacob
Leans in to hear our whispered prayers.

Thank you God, for loving us in spite of who we have been and who we are
Thank you for seeing in us the people that we could become
Thank you for unrelenting love
That pursues us
Apprehends us
And,
If we let it,
Transforms us.

We are awed when we consider that the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has asked to be our God.
May we respond in faith by aspiring to resemble your people. Amen.