This morning in my devotional time I
read a quote from Letters to
Dolcidia: 1954-1983 by Carol
Carretto. He says the following about
prayer:
At a certain
point it occurred to me that what the church lacked was not work, activity, the
building of projects or a commitment to bring in souls. What was missing, or at least was scarce was
the element of prayer, meditation, self-giving, intimacy with God, fidelity to
the Holy Spirit and the conviction that Christ was the real builder of the
Church: in a word, the supernatural
element. Let me make myself clear: people of action are needed in the Church but
we have to be very careful that their action does not smother the more delicate
but much more important element of prayer.
If action is missing and there is prayer, the Church lives on, it keeps
on breathing, but if prayer is missing and there is only action, the Church
withers and dies.[1]
I believe the same can be said of
individuals and families. Could it be
that the brokenness that exists in this world today. Broken individuals and broken families, like
the church, have let go of prayer. Could
it be that we have stopped seeking God.
Could it be that we do so much that we forget to be in relationship with
God and with those whom we love? Are we
trying to build ourselves rather than allowing God to build us?
The Psalmist of Psalm 50 thought so
when he wrote this “liturgy of judgment.”[2] In
this liturgy the psalmist points out that there is nothing we can give to God
that is not already God’s. God doesn’t
desire the sacrifices. God doesn’t need
to be fed. God desires for us to come
into relationship. We show we are in
relationship by communicating with him.
We show we are in relationship by offering sacrifices of
thanksgiving. It is so important to be
thankful. Jesus taught us to say Our
Father in Heaven Hallowed by thy name.
When we praise God we should also thank God. I have begun a practice of beginning my
prayers with thanksgiving for each blessing that I have recognized in my life
since the last time I prayed. This
morning I thanked God for three wonderful friends who surround me with love in
such practical ways. I thanked God for
parents who always have an open door for their children. I pictured in my mind other people who God
placed in my path yesterday who are such a blessing to me. When we start our prayers with that kind of
intentional thanksgiving sometimes it diminishes the things that are weighing
heaviest on your heart. The load is
lightened when we realize God’s presence.
The Psalmist here reminds us that
God says “Cry out to me whenever you are in trouble; I will deliver you, then
you will honor me.” (vs. 15). The Psalmist then goes on to name the actions
that displease God. People who talk
about God as if they love and honor him but live in the opposite way of God’s
way displease God. Included in the list
of things that are contrary to God’s way are stealing, adultery, lying,
speaking in evil ways, and causing discord in your family (vs. 17-20) Notice that each of these things brings harm
to another human being, one of God’s creation.
The first of John Wesley’s “3 simple rules” is Do no Harm. If left to our own devices, without prayer
and relationship with God, we are sure to do harm.
Let me encourage you to begin your
day in intentional prayer and to begin that prayer with lots of
thanksgiving. It is sure to soften your
heart and strengthen you to do no harm.
[1]
Correto Carlo, as found in A Guide to
Prayer for All Who Seek God, Norman Shawchuck
and Rueben P. Job, editors (Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2006) pg.
300-301.
[2][2][2]
Green, Joel B and Willimon, William, Editors Wesley Study Bible, (Common English Bible, Nashville, 2012) pg.
722-footnotes 50:1-23
No comments:
Post a Comment