The non-slip walking stick - May 2013 prayer column

Bradford North Prayer Column: May 2013

The non-slip walking stick

The ground shifts under your feet. The old values slip and you don’t know what to believe any more. What do you stand for? Or against? Small comfort that previous generations also had their seismic shifts: what about our dilemmas? Sabbath observance; marriage and gender mores; rival religions; the truth of the Bible; safeguarding and trust. Add your own items to the list of uncertainties (or things you can’t talk about).

But Jesus is the Rock of our salvation. His words (his alone) are the solid foundations for us to build on. Begin with him and there is hope; end with him for eternal security; continue with him day by day and find light for our paths. So now is the time to rediscover his words and find direction. He has sent his Spirit to breathe new life into us, and part of that new life is having Him within us as Helper in our hobbling walk.

To the Spirit’s whisper we can listen: He explains the Word. Listening is part of prayer. And prayer includes responding. When by the Lakeside the risen Jesus told Peter (and all of us), If you love me, follow me – that was how it was going to work. Prayer is access to the great mind who knows and creates.

Prayer is the walking stick that doesn’t slip, because (or when) it’s grounded in the rock-solid foundation of Christ’s words that endure unshakable for ever.

Roy Lorrain-Smith

A prayer for each week

Lord the Rock, whom we can trust with our lives, and upon whom we can reliably build our opinions and actions, please draw us to rediscover your words, and follow them. Amen.

Lord, the ever-present safety handrail, there to clutch hold of when we totter and would slip, please aid all our climbs: down with you to humility; and up to you in worship. Amen.

Lord of the stone steps, hewn from the Rock and laid for our help, matching our abilities yet stretching our faith, please help us persevere on the paths of your leading. Amen.

Lord, Helper, ever-present, ever able and enabling as we grope in the half-light of our understanding, please may we hear and heed your voice as we read and regard your Word. Amen.

Your own prayers

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