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.
Your own prayers
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