Skip to main content

September 2014 Prayer Column

Image
By
Choppy seas

How lovely it is to sail through life on calm waters, with a following breeze, in good health, well fed and supplied, surrounded by sunshine in pleasant company.  So lovely that we can be lulled into thinking it the norm, and our well-merited right.  Then we can easily feel ill done by when life shows itself in its true colours: disturbances, delays, disruptions, disagreements, disappointments, diversions and dead ends, in all our careful plans and purchases.  Shrilly we protest: How dare they!  

But plain sailing is not the norm, not this side of eternity.  Jesus warned us: in this world we shall have tribulation (Jn 16:33).  And though he goes on at once to reassure: I have overcome the world, he certainly did not mean we’d never have contrary winds or tempestuous circumstances.  Rather, he leads us through them – safely, if not always comfortably.  His reassurance speaks of two things, both essential for our praying.
  1. Hope.  The risen, ascended Jesus IS Lord of all, and IS working out his salvation, for us and the whole creation.  Such promise!
  2. Peace.  Meanwhile, he bequeaths us his peace in the midst of seas too choppy to navigate on our own (Jn 14:27).  Peace beyond understanding.  Peace to rule and guide.  Keep in contact! 

So, as well as trusting prayers for help in all our difficulties, gratitude and praise are in order, as we remain unshifting in our course like a fully stabilised ocean-going liner, although it may sometimes feel more like we’re in a coracle, unable to see over the wave tops.

Roy Lorrain-Smith

A prayer for each week

Lord, who stilled the storm which threatened to sink the boat, rebuking the uppity wind, please bring your calm to our lives now, and to those we name before you.  Amen.

Lord, who walked the waves on a stormy night to be with your disciples in contrary headwinds, please come to us tonight, and give us your peace in our difficulties.  Amen.

Lord, who answered the needs of all whom you met, feeding the hungry and healing the ailing, please meet our problems now: sort them out or see us through.  Amen.

Lord, who opened blind eyes, liberated from chains, and strengthened lame limbs, please repair us: bless us, that we may follow the paths you have chosen for us.  Amen.

Your own prayers


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Circuit Talents Challenge

By
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money ..." Matthew 25:14-30 Why don't you take up the Circuit Talents Challenge by taking a £5 note and making it grow for the Circuit? More details ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The wind among the trees

By
I sat among the trees once. And a wind was blowing. Quite a strong wind; I could hear it in the trees –   rushing, rushing. A lovely sound, soothing to my ears. I stopped what I was writing and began to listen. I remembered that Jesus said that the Holy Spirit was like   the wind. You could hear it; see its effect. But you couldn’t see the wind itself. You couldn’t see   where it was coming from, nor going to. And I wondered, “Are you showing me something about your Spirit, Lord?” So I sat, and I listened, and I watched. They were big, old trees where I sat. Tall they were, in an ancient wood, well-branched,  shapely. Beech, grey bark against the clear blue of the sky. And leaves: they were leaves that knew the wind;   leaves that let the wind know them. They looked, like beach leaves look in a wind: full of life –   and with a certain beauty all their own. I watched the great crowns of those great trees. I watched the branches sway and the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

For such times as these! - A good news story from Windhill!

By
For such times as these! (Esther 14:14) On June 1st James Stannet (from e:merge , a Christian Youth organisation) began his youth work for Christchurch LEP in Windhill. He says, "Well! June has been a really busy but very productive month. On Wednesday, in the park, numbers are climbing week by week, now averaging 25. Good partnerships have been made with local organisations. this has been a blessing: enabling us to deliver varied sport activities and build good relationships.' 'The Hope Revolution, youth event, based at Christchurch LEP was a massive hit. A BIG Thank you is expressed to the Church for the support, encouragement and prayers. 200 people attended the Fun Day. Despite the rainy weather, 100 young people took part in local projects: two house clear-ups, school garden project (Windhill Primary) and running the Fun Day. 10 Christian Organisations working together resulting in several families requesting Christian children's activities.' ...
Post a Comment
Read more