March 25: Accepting of Sabbath from Work

Spring Break: March 25-April 2 

            May God grant us the grace we need to accept this Sabbath from work. May we be released from the stresses of our busy schedules and enjoy this time away from our usual responsibilities. We pray we can prioritize all the activities we have been looking forward to doing during this break. We give thanks for the chance to reconnect with friends and family members. After constant deadlines and obligations, we may have trouble settling down again, but we are thankful nonetheless for this time God has given us.

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March 24: Allowing for Grace During Periods of Stress

Spring Midterms: March 24

            We most often forget the virtue of grace during periods of stress. We agonize over our mistakes in high-pressure situations when we really need forgiveness for ourselves. May God allow us to accept our shortcomings as our resources are stretched. May we practice the same grace towards others in our community as we empathize with their own stresses. We commit ourselves to trying our best for academic success, but we also allow ourselves the space for breaks and mistakes under pressure.

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March 22: Practicing Grace towards our Enemies

            Although we know God instructs us to practice grace towards everyone, we continue to place barriers between our enemies and us. We pray God gives us the strength to show grace toward our enemies. Grace does not mean condoning actions that hurt others and ourselves but instead attempting understanding and reconciliation where possible. May we admit to our own vulnerabilities and commit to listening to those who disagree with us. Mainly, may we show grace by acknowledging the hollowness of our divides and the unity of all humanity.

Photo by author, taken in Malacca, Malaysia 

March 20: Practicing Grace in Relationships

            We acknowledge that sometimes it is hardest to show grace to those closest to us. May God grant us the strength to practice grace in our relationships. May we accept forgiveness when our loved ones offer it and allow them space to grow when they make mistakes. We pray our loved ones show us the same compassion. Even when it is difficult, may God give us the maturity to avoid grudges and accept both our friends’ imperfections and our own. May Jesus and the grace he showed to others while on Earth serve as a model for our own relationships today.

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March 16: Prayer for Release from Debts

            We pray for grace in the form of the release from our debts. We ask for God to help us manage our debts, our loans, and our family’s mortgages. May God give us the courage and wisdom to acknowledge and correct injustice in debt policies even if we may not be the ones inflicted. May God grant us the employment and resources we need to release ourselves. We pray for the forgiveness and neutralization of debts so that we may continue our lives with grace and freedom.

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