Majesty and mayhem - February 2015 Prayer Column

How do you get on with the idea of God’s ‘Majesty’? Above all. Beyond all. And the ‘omnies’: all knowing; all powerful; and everywhere present – the great Now, from everlasting to everlasting. Does it help your prayers? OK for praise, but how about when things go pear-shaped?

There’s what we might call the foxhole prayer: Lord, make it all go away. That assumes God’s power to help, but (on its own) rather questions why he let it happen in the first place – wasn’t he watching over us? It also risks relegating God to a personal assistant with me at the centre – I’m in a fix; get it sorted (please). Scarcely does justice to God’s Majesty!

If God is as Majestic as we say, don’t we have to accept that he’s in charge, with a perfect plan for us which may include permitting (or even sending) hardships and trials – to achieve his purpose because nothing else could? Kindness and severity; love with toughness. That would lead to a far more positive prayer: Lord, please see me through this, that it may achieve whatever you have in mind. This allows for development: faith to be refined through the furnace; or beefed up in the gym. Both Biblical metaphors, tell us we come out stronger by going through it.

However, whereas we may embrace our own suffering in that way, we certainly can’t impose it on others. Our hands raised aloft to God on High, must also be outstretched to help when others are in need.

Roy LS

A prayer for each week

Majestic Lord – on high, aloft, above, exalted – who also came to earth to live, work, teach and save: we praise you for whatever lies ahead. Amen.

Mighty Lord, Creator of the cosmos and Rescuer from the Fall (the mess we make), please help us stick with the ways you choose for us. Amen.

Merciful Lord, who leaves us not on our own, but calls, leads, and heals us into the wholeness of humanhood, please make us strong in you. Amen.

Masterful Lord, whose ways are beyond our fathoming but which are perfect and perfecting, please help us conquer, in all our trials. Amen.

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