Before You Begin
Pause. Quiet your mind, take a slow breath in and out. Stay in this moment.
Passage
Matthew 11:28, John 7:37, Revelation 3:20
Reading & Reflection
Have you ever been afraid to invite someone to something? I sure have. Just this week I sent an invitation that took….I sent an invitation this week that took more courage than I expected. About a year ago, there was a particularly painful falling-out with two families in my kids' sports community—a messy situation that left some deep hurt, especially for my son and the other two boys at the center of it.
This week, my son said he wanted to invite those same guys to his birthday dinner. I’m proud of him for that—but it meant I had to message their moms to say their sons were welcome. With literally shaking fingers, I hit send.
When I began to think about why this scared me so much, I realized it wasn’t just a fear of rejection—it was a fear of surrender. Once I hit send, I had no control over what would unfold. Would they respond? Would it stir things up again? Would this simple act of kindness bring healing or more hurt?
Invitations are risky because once that door opens, we can’t control what comes through.
Jesus understood that. And yet, He kept inviting.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened…” (Matthew 11:28)
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” (John 7:37)
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock…” (Revelation 3:20)
Every invitation of Jesus is both full of risk and love. He knew many would ignore Him, misunderstand Him, even betray Him—and He invited anyway. And He keeps inviting.
When I first started thinking about Sacred Homecoming, I saw it as a response—God inviting us to pause, return, and meet Him again. That felt safe. But then I realized something deeper: even my pause, my returning, my willingness to meet Him again—those are all invitations from me to the Holy Spirit to come into my life, my stillness, and take me somewhere new.
And honestly? That’s a 10 out of 10 on the scary-invitation scale. Sitting here in my comfortable faith, I can tell myself stories about its depth and my surrender. But what if I invite the Holy Spirit to truly move and then hesitate to follow… I can’t unsee the truth about my faith.
And so, I begin. I begin to face the surface-level faith I’ve settled for. The door is open, and I’m going to walk through. Because maybe the holiest homecomings begin right where our hands are trembling, as we dare to hit “send.”
Holy Spirit, come.
However scary it may be, we need the Holy Spirit to teach us how to surrender, how to repent from old ways of thinking and return to you.
Bottom Line: When we dare to open the door to the Holy Spirit—to return and repent—that’s where transformation begins.
Morning Prayer
Holy Spirit, I open the door to You. Meet me in my hesitation and remind me that I don’t need to be afraid to invite You in—for You are gentle and kind, offering rest for my weary soul, just as Jesus promised. Take me beyond my comfort and lead me deeper into Your presence. Amen.
Evening Prayer
Holy Spirit, I give the day behind me to you. Jesus, I give you everyone and everything; I accept your invitation to follow you more deeply in a relationship with you. Even as I sleep, give me the courage and the faith I need to seek and follow You. Amen
