Daily Blessing Prayers through Lent have been created by Rev. Dr. Cynthia Davis, who has dedicated her life to serving others. She spent 24 years in nursing as a clinician, educator, and leader in trauma, surgical, and cardiovascular care. She later supported students as a college counselor, faculty member, and admissions manager.
Following a call to ministry, Dr. Davis pastored both local United Methodist congregations and served as district superintendent. She retired in 2022 to focus on home care ministry.
Dr. Davis holds a BSN from the University of Mississippi, an MS in Counseling from the University of Memphis, and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary, where she focused on public health in the Black Church. A sought-after speaker and award recipient, she serves on multiple boards.
She and her husband, Dr. Elvernice “Sonny” Davis, have four children and three grandchildren.
Genesis 2:5-8
Genesis 2:5-8
Before any wild plants appeared on the earth, and before any field crops grew, because the LORD God hadn’t yet sent rain on the earth and there was still no human being to farm the fertile land, though a stream rose from the earth and watered all of the fertile land—the LORD God formed the human from the topsoil of the fertile land and blew life’s breath into his nostrils. The human came to life. The LORD God planted a garden in Eden in the east and put there the human he had formed.
God we thank you that we matter!
That our lives matter.
That we are valued by you!
You are the God of the entire universe.
Yet, yet, yet, you took the time to stop
and scoop up fertile soil and form your creation.
And then you breathed the breath of life,
the breath of God into our nostrils!
We matter, because you said so…
We matter and we are loved
and we are valued
because you took the time to nurture us
and care for us
and walk with us and to be with us.
So, no matter what happens,
O God, we are not afraid
because we walk
with the God of the universe!
Thank you for another day’s journey today.
And we pray in faith and thanksgiving
in the name of your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Genesis 3:19
Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the fertile land, since from it you are taken. You are soil; to the soil you will return.
Gracious God,
we thank you
that you scooped up
something as common as dirt.
As rich as the soil.
With nutrients and minerals and life.
You scooped it up
and you made man
from the soil of the earth.
God, you.
You breathe life into a physical body
to make it a spiritual body.
And then the woman from the rib
you gave him as a companion.
So from his dirt, she became dirt.
All humanity, all living creatures, are dirt.
Our soil.
And from that soil, all of us will return.
On our tombstones
we see a date of birth.
And a date of death.
But hallelujah!
That dash between those dates
are the days and the hours
that you have worked in us.
And through us,
before we return to our resting place.
Thank you for speaking to us and through us.
And thank you for using us.
And thank you for allowing us
to be able to pour out of our well
the blessings that you have given us so abundantly.
We remember
during this Lenten season
that in a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye,
we will vanish
like the petals of a flower
being blown by the wind.
But even in that time,
we will rest with you.
We thank you for the gift of your presence.
We thank you for the holiness of your name.
We thank you
for your righteousness and your justice.
That we can make an impact in the world.
In our dash,
before we return to the soil
from which we have come.
Thank you for the inspiration
to be able to move forward in life,
and that we will share your word
and your goodness
and tell the story of just how good you are.
Thank you for this day.
Bless us as we go,
That we might indeed be a blessing
to the people of God.
And we pray in thanksgiving and faith
in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.