Prayer Column - October 2020

Could do better

The two little boys next door have taken to calling us Joy and Rean, despite repeated parental correction. We hear their shrill voices calling to us over the garden wall or when we meet in the street. Though we’re not sure which of us is Joy and which is Rean, we stand not upon the order of our naming but give them our attention. Contact is made.

Likewise, I don’t think it matters much if we get a bit mixed up with our name for God when we pray. Most prayers in the Bible are addressed to God, but some are to Jesus, and though few if any are directed to the Holy Spirit, he certainly wants to speak to us: teaching and guiding us about what to do and where to go, and with whom. Moreover, when we call out to God, by any of the names given to him in Scripture (and there are many, reflecting different aspects of his nature – though the NT special, always preferred by Jesus, is still ‘Father’: as in, When you pray, say, Our Father who art in heaven...), by whatever name we use he is not going to be stuffy about it. He listens. Contact is made, and there is communication.

Sometimes the little boys next door have no time to listen to us because either or both of them won’t stop talking themselves, so conversation can be a bit one-sided. It’s a lot better than nothing, but I do wonder if some of our prayer time is like that. And, like the old school report, we could do better. Listening better so we can do better.

Roy Lorrain-Smith

A prayer for each week

Almighty God, with whom nothing is impossible in the working of your great plan to restore all creation, please give us faith to work with you, whatever you call us to do. Amen.

Heavenly Father, commanding yet compassionate, loving enough to discipline your children through Jesus your Son, please fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may honour you. Amen.

Most High God, above all other rival claimants to power in our lives, please help us to worship you – in words of praise, but also in lives of willing and thankful obedience. Amen.

Lord Jesus, we worship you as our Rescuer and Leader, taking us back to God. Please help us abide in you as your words abide in us, and in our lives bear fruit that glorifies him. Amen.

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