Prayer: The Gate

Ephesians 4:1 – 4:4

1 Therefore I implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,  2  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,  3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  4  there is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling.

I am so grateful to live where I am allowed to pursue Christ and practice my own religion.  I live in a place where freedom of thought and ideas are valued. I am blessed.

 I have friends who have far different views than I do, but enjoy listening to their point of view.  Some of the people I hang out with are: artists, teachers, construction people, small business owners, veterinary technicians, database and software engineers, writers, ministers, graphic designers, and bankers.  Some of my friends are conservative, some are quite liberal, some are Christian, some are athiests and I have a friend who is Muslim. 

There are times we break bread together,  have spirited debates, have fun relaxing or doing outdoor sports together.  We share books, hugs, dreams for our future and the future of our children.  We also share the sorrow as well as the joy of day to day life. We encourage each other with all humility and gentleness with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love (see above scripture for the day).

I don’t want them to all think like me, or be like me.  We must all think for ourselves and walk in a manor worthy of our calling.

Holy God, be with me today and I go into the world.  Allow your love to shine through me to others in tolerance, gentleness and grace.  That is how they will know who I am as your child.  Amen

Ephesians 4:7   But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

It is Wednesday in Colorado and I spent the morning with my prayer team.  Someone usually takes the cards from the pews on Sunday and the team is given request for this time on Wednesday.  I add many of the names here on the prayer request page and during prayer time we address the requests one by one.

There are always prayer requests for healing of sick family members, jobs, recovery for physical, emotional, or other health issues, travel mercies, etc.  There are also prayer requests for wisdom for government, strength and wisdom for teachers and students.  But today,  we had one from a child who wanted to pray that God would make their dog bigger. 

We do not take prayer requests lightly, and so even though I have no specific details about this dog or child; prayers were offered up.

I love faith through the eyes of a child.  Many things are so clear to them.  They take each day as it comes.  They delight in each discovery.  And far too soon they are no longer children.

It is not for me to say how this prayer will be answered.  As the intercessor my job is to bring the prayer before God, release it, and not tell him how to do his job.

 Maybe the dog will grow.  Maybe the child will accept the size of the dog and the desire for the dog to change will diminish.  Maybe the family will adopt another dog and it will be bigger.

We walk by faith and not by sight.  We also pray by faith and not by site.  Have a blessed day.  Amen

I read in the paper about a group called Thirteen Grandmothers.  They are speakers and travel the world talking about prayer and peace.  I talk about prayer and strengthening your spirit.  So I was anxious to read about them.

It turns out one obtained an audience with the Pope in Rome, but when she demanded an apology for the treatment of the American Indians 200 years ago, the Pope canceled the meeting.

It is time to get over it.  While you are carrying a grudge, they are out dancing.  I think we should all be out dancing, especially waltzing as it is such a graceful dance. 

Walking in grace involves forgiveness.  Walking in grace is being filled with love and compassion, not resentment and anger.

Ephesians 1:7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

So go out today letting go of any past anger and resentment.  Walk in God’s grace, moving forward with your life.

The Psalms are filled with bold statements.  They are a song and a prayer.  I believe David wrote them so as he would sing them they would help him stay strong in his faith, and remind him of the power of God.

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;   3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.

10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Merciful God, I confess that I have criticised people rather than praying for them. I have condemned them on hearsay and passed judgement without considering my own transgressions.  Forgive me.

Let me walk in grace today.   Grace that is not earned, but given by you. Let me bring hope and mercy to others by my actions.  May they know I am a child of God by the love I share. Let me pray for those in need.  The joy of the LORD is my strength.   When I am in a place joy and gratitude, there is no room for intolerance and hatred.  Keep me close and humble Father.  Amen

Attended a Spiritual Formation group prayer gathering yesterday and we looked at a prayer written by John Wesley in 1733.  Having spent time in the Methodist church, I have heard and recited pieces of John Wesley prayers and works, but it was interesting to spend time going line by line in a nearly 300 year old prayer.

His first two stanzas from A Collection of Forms of Prayer (1733):

To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, I give up myself entirely.  May I no longer serve myself, but you, all the days of my life.

I give you my understanding.  May it be my only care to know you, your perfections, your works, and your will.  Let all things else be as dross unto me, for the excellency of this knowledge, and let me silence all reasoning’s against whatsoever you teach me, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.

Although the language is a bit flowery, we are still walking by reasoning and not by faith today.  Everything screams at us from the TV to the internet of speculation and hearsay disguised in the deceptive mask of reasoning. 

Yet we know that in our hearts, our gut, our listening to that small voice of faith that if we lean not unto our own understanding we can reach higher.  Walking by faith we find our true place here and now and the thing we were born to do.