Hey God, its me again. I'm more than a little frightened and very confused. Are we descending into the final days of the Republic? I have never known such complete disregard for the rule of law -- even a bit more courtesy would be a comfort. Everyone sounds so afraid and hiding the fear behind anger, criticism and a wholly irrational posture that anyone can know much of anything "for sure" most especially in the days of photo shopping and "satirical news". It all just seems so insane.
So here is what I'm asking for myself:
Let me see more clearly; even if I don't like the truth, surely it is the best and most powerful position. And let me be humble, never assuming that I have the whole story or that there are simple answers because no one can and there never are.
Let me remember that behind that person who is in my face is Your Child and that if I can't discuss something calmly I need to walk away at least until I get some perspective. (This one is so hard Lord, when someone is emotionally abusing their child or parent in public, but I know prayers count and You love them both, abuser and abused, equally and see the shattered core of each. Still, it feels like a burning building where I long to jump in like Wonder Woman and I need Your wisdom and strength to keep from causing additional harm, while not missing a chance to help.)
Let me hear Your voice as I consider where to put my energies and abilities. I am aware that You have not gone on vacation and left me as the responsible party to labor in every broken place, so I deeply need Your Spirit that I might discern what fights to enjoin and where to put my shoulder to the wheel. And help me to stay fully dependent on You Lord, so that in each moment I lean on You rather than my limited abilities and resources because experience tells me that the better I do this the more people are comforted, tended, loved and renewed--the greater is the harvest.
Let me not be distracted by the shear depth of brokenness in this world, but indeed to pray without ceasing that I might be kind to every broken heart (which is all of us) and fearless because speaking the truth about anything rarely ushers in a time of carefree frolicking, but rather often leaves us targets for people who are enslaved to their addictions and arrogance and fears and rage.
Let me be willing to assist and open my heart to love even the least attractive of Your children - the enraged, the demanding, the critical, the terrified, because You loved me at my worst, my most broken, my most terrified. Let me see the invisible of our culture: the lonely aged, the disengaged child, the poor, the ill, the hopeless, the desperate and answer Your call to add my hands and feet in aid of them.
I clearly can't do any of this on my own, so I ask most humbly and confidently for the gift of Your Spirit, by the blood of Your Son. AMEN
Mark 8:25 Again Jesus laid his hands on the man’s eyes, and the man opened them wide. His eyes were healed, and he was able to see everything clearly.
So here is what I'm asking for myself:
Let me see more clearly; even if I don't like the truth, surely it is the best and most powerful position. And let me be humble, never assuming that I have the whole story or that there are simple answers because no one can and there never are.
Let me remember that behind that person who is in my face is Your Child and that if I can't discuss something calmly I need to walk away at least until I get some perspective. (This one is so hard Lord, when someone is emotionally abusing their child or parent in public, but I know prayers count and You love them both, abuser and abused, equally and see the shattered core of each. Still, it feels like a burning building where I long to jump in like Wonder Woman and I need Your wisdom and strength to keep from causing additional harm, while not missing a chance to help.)
Let me hear Your voice as I consider where to put my energies and abilities. I am aware that You have not gone on vacation and left me as the responsible party to labor in every broken place, so I deeply need Your Spirit that I might discern what fights to enjoin and where to put my shoulder to the wheel. And help me to stay fully dependent on You Lord, so that in each moment I lean on You rather than my limited abilities and resources because experience tells me that the better I do this the more people are comforted, tended, loved and renewed--the greater is the harvest.
Let me not be distracted by the shear depth of brokenness in this world, but indeed to pray without ceasing that I might be kind to every broken heart (which is all of us) and fearless because speaking the truth about anything rarely ushers in a time of carefree frolicking, but rather often leaves us targets for people who are enslaved to their addictions and arrogance and fears and rage.
Let me be willing to assist and open my heart to love even the least attractive of Your children - the enraged, the demanding, the critical, the terrified, because You loved me at my worst, my most broken, my most terrified. Let me see the invisible of our culture: the lonely aged, the disengaged child, the poor, the ill, the hopeless, the desperate and answer Your call to add my hands and feet in aid of them.
I clearly can't do any of this on my own, so I ask most humbly and confidently for the gift of Your Spirit, by the blood of Your Son. AMEN
Mark 8:25 Again Jesus laid his hands on the man’s eyes, and the man opened them wide. His eyes were healed, and he was able to see everything clearly.
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