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A thousand and one Mississippies - May Prayer Column

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That sore knee again: I have exercises for recovery, each lasting about five seconds. You can measure seconds my saying, “A-thousand-and-1... -2... -3...”, or “Mississippi-1... -2...” and so on. With three different exercises, on both legs, repeated 20 to 40 times, morning noon and night, that’s about 1500 Mississippies every day, for months! I know it’s a big river, but I got fed up with the repetition and wondered if there was something more positive and edifying – like repetitive prayer.

I don’t mean a rosary, but how about positive affirmation of the Lord’s healing programme: By-your-stripes, Lord (1...5); I-am-healed, Lord; I-am-saved, Lord; I am yours, Lord (speak quick to measure seconds).

Or proclaim to ourselves reminders about God: Heavenly Father (1...5), Jesus, Lord and Saviour..., Holy Spirit, Helper...

Or take a favourite text, phrase by phrase: Behold, you stand... I hear your knock... I open to you..., Come in and eat, Lord (Rev 3:20).

Or review God’s great salvation programme for us and the world: Creator God; Saviour Jesus; Restoring Spirit; Redeeming Lord; Renewing Lord; Reaping Lord; Righteous Lord; and so on, as the Spirit takes you.

Working through these, or others like them, a few thousand times – in strengthening exercises or any other repetitive activity – begins to generate something powerful, like a turbine in a river. Perhaps not the Mississippi, but the river of the water of life flowing from God’s throne, with trees of healing on either bank (Rev 2:1-2).

Roy LS

A prayer for each week

Healing Lord, concerned both with the future of our sore world and our hurt knees, please make us whole that we can work better for you. Amen.

Teaching Lord, please help me by the rote of repetition to grasp in faith the truths of your great promises of rescue and recovery, through Jesus. Amen.

Sovereign Lord, mightier that we can ever fathom in your power and reach, and yet involved daily in the detail of our lives, we praise you. Amen.

Creator Lord, sustaining all you have made with the healing flow of life from your presence, please keep us in ever-increasing faith, in Jesus. Amen.

Your own prayers

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