The Lord of the dance - June 2016 prayer column

If you’re a dancer you may want to kick at the use of this analogy, but we’re reading a book (King’s Cross by Timothy Keller) which likens Christian faith to a dance. His point is that, whoever we are, we can’t always be at the centre of a dance: we must also circle round others. And that’s the nature of relationship. It’s also the nature of God – in three persons, in relationship, like a dance. A dance into which we are invited, and for which we were created, and in which alone we shall find full joy. Rebellion, which began in Eden, is insisting on God dancing round us: I must understand, or have, or do, or be – anything but walk in faith, or trip to the divine.

It made me wonder about prayer. In prayer we relate to God as we speak, and even more as we listen, and most of all if we trust and obey. But is our prayer like that – mine or yours? How much dancing with the Lord is there in our prayers, alone, or in church, or in our prayer meetings? Are we ever guilty of using prayer as a cover for getting what we want? Prayer may sound holy, but it isn’t if it’s selfish. Nor if we just crank the handle of intercession without pausing to ask God how we should pray for those we hold up before him (what we should be asking for) – not to mention listening for his call to move in sync with them as well as him – like helping, or healing, or encouraging, or listening, or praying for (much?) longer. In faith, with the Lord of the dance.

Roy LS

A prayer for each week

Lord God, who danced in the morning when the world was begun, please help us to dance in stewardship to the rhythm of your beat. Amen.

Lord God, who invites all to dance with you, following, following, please help us to abandon hindrance and step wherever you take us. Amen.

Lord God, whose dance spans all time and every day, with compassion for the lame, please help us to raise them to their feet in your name. Amen.

Lord God, who danced to the Father’s call even on that bleak Friday, leading to Easter Day gold, please help us also to trust and obey. Amen.

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