This mornings readings threw up a few Gems... not least the 'Missio Dei' story of Peters call to Cornelius' house. But the ones I wanted to post here had a strong resonance with the world today, they gave me to reminders/challenges...
Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war. Psalm 120
Pray for Jerusalem's peace! Psalm 122... firstly simply talking about peace will never be enough to change the hearts of those who seem hellbent on war... whether they be our neighbours or our leaders. I was struck by a moment a few months ago at a C.M.S. day when we were talking about all the wonderful things that we were doing to raise awareness of Human Trafficking (the new slavery), all I could think about was, all this is great, but is there anything I can DO to impact the situation? So again I am prompted to ask myself the same question... just what am I DOING to bring peace? I guess nothing at the moment, maybe it is time to think about action, just what CAN I/we do? Secondly, the psalmist calls for prayer for Jerusalem... excuse me if I extend this to the whole of the Middle East... but as well as reflecting on our deeds rather than simply words, we are called to pray without ceasing for peace for the region which was the anvil on which so much of our culture was forged. So the challenge this morning is to stop with the words, start to pray and do something!
Technorati Tags: Bible: Prayer: Rythmn: Spirituality
I think, that for a lot of Christians (certainly for me in the past and others I ahve spoken to) the whole idea of "praying for Peace in Jerusalem" seems a bit scary. Maybe scary is the wrong word, but too big, like "How can I, by my little prayers, ever make a difference?" Wondering how that can be changed, hmmm?
Posted by: Zoe | 09/09/2006 at 22:14
Agree with your prayers! AMEN!
Posted by: Existential Punk | 10/09/2006 at 03:04
Zoe, I wonder where this idea comes from? There seems a somewhat skewed (if human) theology here... 'It is my ability in prayer which transforms', is the power of prayer in our hands? I hope not! The two passages that stir me re. prayer are Romans 8...
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.
and Acts 12 (too long to cut'n'paste) where the Disciples are praying 'earnestly' for Peter's release from prison. When he turns up, their paryers having been answered, they simply cannot believe it is Peter... finding it easier to believe that it is Peter's Angel knocking on the door than that God had actually answered their prayers!
These stir me because it seems that neither our ability to string together the right words in prayer nor our ultimate faith in the power of prayer matter a bit!
Posted by: Mark Berry | 10/09/2006 at 17:10
Totally agree with you now, and even finding it difficult to remember why or how I thought the other way. Think if I could remember more of what that was like for me, I would have something more to say to those who still feel that way.
Posted by: Zoe | 11/09/2006 at 09:49