Prayer and the Kingdom

November 29, 2008 | Filed Under kingdom of God, prayer | No Comments

I have been reading a wonderful little book on prayer by Stanley Grenz that rarely gets much attention, but I think it should. It was first published in 1988 and revised in 2005, the same year Grenz died from a massive brain hemorrhage. Here are a couple of excerpts.

“In short, prayer is a crying to God for help, based on an awareness of dependence on God. It is the cry for the kingdom voiced by persons who realize that only the in-breaking of God’s reign can remedy the challenging situations that we face. E.M. Bounds aptly comments:

Prayer is the language of a man burdened with a sense of need. It is the voice of a beggar, conscious of his poverty, asking of another the things he needs . . . Not to pray is not only to declare that there is nothing needed, but to admit to a non-realization of that need.

Viewed in this light, prayer resembles faith. Like faith, petition is merely opening our empty hand so that we might received God’s provision. But we must take this connection a step further. Prayer not only expresses the dependence connected to faith; it is also a declaration that we do indeed believe that God is both willing and able to act.

This suggest that a significant relationship also exists between God’s action and human faith. The New Testament repeatedly reminds us that God will not act unless human begins believe that God can do so. Or, to state the point in another way, the New Testament declares that faith brings results (e.g. , James 1:6-8; Luke 7:50; Matt. 9:29; 13:58; 17:20; 21:21). And one meaningful expression of faith in God is petitionary prayer. . . .

Because of its connection to the coming of the kingdom, prayer brings results. As we pray, we are able to perceive the presence of the kingdom in all areas of life. As we pray, we become the instruments of the Spirit in opening the situations we face to receive the in-breaking of God’s rule in the present. And through prayer, we move history toward that day when the kingdom will arrive in its fullness and God’s work in the world will reach its final goal.”

– Stanley Grenz, Prayer: The Cry For The Kingdom

Spend Yourself In Behalf Of Others

November 22, 2008 | Filed Under justice, prayer | No Comments

These two readings from Celtic Daily Prayer really spoke to me this morning:

“Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.”
Psalm 112:4-5

“And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:10-11

Sacred Rhythm & Missional Living

November 19, 2008 | Filed Under missional order, prayer | No Comments

In a post I did several months ago titled “Missional: More Than a Buzz Word” I shared three theological distinctions that I believe are necessary to bring clarity and explanation to the use of the word “missional.” In addition I discussed five practical issues that I think can help to foster a missional posture in the life of the church.

The first of these practical issues involves an emphasis on spiritual formation. If the church is going to develop the passion, strength, and discernment to live as a sent, Spirit-filled community then there must be a strong focus on spiritual formation. We need learn to see  where God is working in our communities and discern  how He desires for us to participate.  

Part of this discernment process I believe involves developing a “rhythm” that puts us in a place to hear from God regularly. More and more people are recognizing the absolute need of some sort of rhythm of life that is marked by daily moments of prayer, solitude, worship, and study. 

If you have ever struggled with cultivating such a rhythm with your daily activities, let me suggest checking out Missional Order. Over the past few weeks there have been several posts that have encouraged and challenged me in multiple ways. Here are a few of the posts that have recently spoke to me:

Be There
Dance of Prayer
Midday Slowdown
Present to the Present
The Rhythm of Real Life
Do You Hear What God Says?
Solitude, Community, Ministry
A Sacred Rhythm of Continual Conversion

Hurry Isn’t Helpful

October 2, 2008 | Filed Under books, hospitality, prayer | No Comments

My friend Georges Boujakly reminds us from Celtic Daily Prayer that hurry isn’t helpful for anyone.

Hurry is an unpleasant thing in itself, but also very unpleasant for whoever is around it. Some people came into my room and rushed in an rushed out and even when they were there they were not there–they were in the moment ahead or the moment behind. Some people who came in just for a moment were all there, completely in that moment.

Live from day to day, just from day to day. If you do so, you worry less and live more richly. If you let yourself be absorbed completely, if you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly in those moments.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh in Celtic Daily Prayer

Praying with Saint Benedict

July 12, 2008 | Filed Under hospitality, prayer | 2 Comments

O Lord, I place myself in Your hands and dedicate myself to You. I pledge myself to do Your will in all things:

To love the Lord God with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength.

Not to kill, not to steal, not to covet, not to bear false witness, to honor all persons.

Not to do to another what I should not want done to myself.

To love fasting. To relieve the poor.
To clothe the naked. To visit the sick.

To bury the dead. To help those in trouble.
To console the sorrowing. To hold myself aloof from worldly ways.
To prefer nothing to the love of Christ. More>>

Praying with Ignatius of Loyola

March 31, 2008 | Filed Under prayer | No Comments

ignatius-loyola.jpgDear Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not to seek reward, save that of knowing that I do your will.

– Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)

Praying With The Missio Dei Breviary

March 8, 2008 | Filed Under missional, prayer | 1 Comment

missio-dei-breviary.jpgMatthew 5:43-48

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Closing Prayer

Lord, help us to love our enemies in both words and deeds. Help us to embody your loving, forgiving presence in our neighborhood—especially among those who resist the Gospel, especially to those who hate your name.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Week 1: Saturday Evening

More Praying With The Missio Dei Breviary

February 17, 2008 | Filed Under missiology, prayer | No Comments

the-missio-dei-breviary.jpg 

The past couple of weeks I have been utilizing The Missio Dei Breviary as my daily prayer guide. I have thoroughly enjoyed this simple yet substantial collection of prayers and Gospel readings.

My favorite aspect of the Breviary is the missional emphasis woven through each of the morning and evening collections. Click here to learn more. Here is a sample from Week 3: Sunday Evening:  

The Jesus Manifesto

With Jesus, we proclaim:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Father, anoint us with your Spirit. As you sent your Son, your Son has sent us; may we embody the presence of your Son in the world, and in our neighborhood. Empower us to live and proclaim your good news in our neighborhood, and in the world.

Praying With The Missio Dei Breviary

February 15, 2008 | Filed Under missional, prayer | No Comments

missio-dei-breviary.jpgSovereign God, everything we have belongs to you. May we use what we have to bless others and woo people into the Kingdom, rather than for our own comfort and ease. Bless us so that we may bless others. If we do not bless others, take our resources from us and give them to those who will bless others.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

- Closing Prayer from Week 2: Friday Morning, The Missio Dei Breviary

Morning Prayer

November 30, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | No Comments

diary-of-private-prayer.jpgLet me not, when this morning prayer is said, think my worship ended and spend the day in forgetfulness of You. Rather from these moments of quietness let light go forth, and joy, and power, that will remain with me through all the hours of the day;

Keeping me chaste in thought:
Keeping me temperate and truthful in speech:
Keeping me faithful and diligent in my work:
Keeping me humble in my estimation of myself:
Keeping me honourable and generous in dealings with others:
Keeping me loyal to every memory of the past:
Keeping me mindful of my eternal destiny as a child of Yours.

Praying with Francis of Assisi

November 24, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | No Comments

st-francis.jpgThis is a prayer from Francis of Assisi that was a part of the missional images post from several months ago. I was reminded of this prayer during this season of thanksgiving.

Lord make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, let me sow pardon.
Where there is doubt, let me sow faith.
Where is despair, let me give hope.
Where there is darkness, let me give light.
Where there is sadness, let me give joy.
Grant that I may not try to be comforted, but to comfort;
not try to be understood, but to understand; not try to be loved, but to love.
Because it is in giving that we receive, in forgiving that we are forgiven,
and in dying that we are born to eternal life.

- Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

Praying with Ignatius

November 15, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | No Comments

ignatius-loyola.jpg

O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence, Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love
and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for living close to You, we shall see Your hand, Your purpose,
Your will through all things.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)

Franciscan Benediction

September 20, 2007 | Filed Under missional, prayer | 1 Comment

franciscan.jpgMay God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

(HT: One for the Road)

Prayers for the Week

August 29, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | No Comments

worship-2.jpgAlmighty God, who has given your only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of his godly life: Give me grace that I may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit and also daily endeavor myself to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

- The Prayer Appointed for the Week, The Divine Hours

God of justice, God of mercy, bless all those who are surprised with pain this day from suffering caused by their own weakness or that of others. Let what we suffer teach us to be merciful; let our sins teach us to forgive. This we ask through the intercession of Jesus and all who died forgiving those who oppressed them. Amen.

- The Concluding Prayer of the Church, The Divine Hours

Daily Prayers

July 23, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | No Comments

divine-hours.jpgO Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your servant who calls upon you, and grant that I may know and understand what things I ought to do, and that I also may have the grace and power to faithfully accomplish them; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

-The Vespers Office, The Divine Hours

Daily Prayers

July 10, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | No Comments

path.jpgMay the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

- A blessing from the Celtic Book of Prayer

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

- The Concluding Prayer of the Church, The Divine Hours

Spiritual Transformation - Key #1c

June 19, 2007 | Filed Under books, georges boujakly, prayer, spiritual formation | 1 Comment

diary-of-prayer.jpgThe Art of Telling God on Yourself.

In light of the previous post I want to share a helpful prayer of confession. It is inspired by John Baillie in his Diary of Private Prayer - day eleven:

Merciful heart of God, in true repentance, I now open my heart to you. Help me not to hide anything from you as I (”we” if prayed in community) pray. The truth of my sinfulness is humbling to me, but I take courage that I am confessing in your merciful presence. What I committed in shame I now confess in shame. In your wisdom use the pain of my confession to make me hate the sins I confess. The suspension mark (…) is where you can be specific. More>>

Praying with Kim Fabricius

June 3, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | 1 Comment

It’s a world of confusion, Lord:
we are muddled in our thinking;
we are mixed in our emotions;
we are inconsistent in our actions.

It’s a world of lies, Lord:
we deceive ourselves about our motives and intentions;
we mislead others with double-speak and spin;
we exploit you as an agent of social control and repression.

It’s a world of greed, Lord:
we worship the idol of the market;
we honour the false prophets of profit;
we reduce people to punters and nations to debt.

It’s a world of violence, Lord:
we deploy the technology of terror to protect our own interests;
we invest our children in the business of bloodshed;
we justify war as first strike, last resort, or final solution.

It’s a world of vengeance, Lord:
we allow the wounds of history to fester;
we refuse the healing of memories;
we betray the living out of mistaken loyalty to the dead.

Oh Lord,
in this world of confusion, make us a people of clarity;
in this world of lies, make us a people of integrity;
in this world of greed, make us a people of generosity;
in this world of violence, make us a people of peace;
in this world of vengeance, make us a people of mercy:
in the name of Christ: Amen.

- Kim Fabricius

Praying with Frank Topping

May 14, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | No Comments

daily-prayer.jpgHow often do I nod,
as if I were listening,
to words I cannot hear,
because I’m thinking about something else,
because I’m planning what I intend to say.
Yet there are those who are good listeners:
a good conversationalist listens,
a good counsellor or adviser listens,
a good doctor listens, a good judge,
a good friend.
And you, my Lord,
you listen even to my thoughts.
Teach me to listen,
that I may hear when you speak. - Frank Topping

Praying with Aelred of Rievaulx

April 27, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | 1 Comment

aelred-of-rievaulx.jpgLord, I sometimes wander away from you. But this is not because I am deliberately turning my back on you. It is because of the inconstancy of my mind. I weaken in my intention to give my whole soul to you. I fall back into thinking of myself as my own master. But when I wander from you, my life becomes a burden, and within me I find nothing but darkness and wretchedness, fear and anxiety. So I come back to you, and confess that I have sinned against you. And I know you will forgive me.

- Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167)

Praying with Francis of Assisi

April 21, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | No Comments

fransis-of-assisi.jpgLord make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, let me sow pardon.
Where there is doubt, let me sow faith.
Where is despair, let me give hope.
Where there is darkness, let me give light.
Where there is sadness, let me give joy.
Grant that I may not try to be comforted, but to comfort;
not try to be understood, but to understand;
not try to be loved, but to love.
Because it is in giving that we receive, in forgiving that we are forgiven,
and in dying that we are born to eternal life.

- Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

Praying with Erasmus

April 13, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | No Comments

erasmus.jpg“Adorable Spirit, may the rushing wind of your mercy blow away all trace of sin within us, and may your unquenchable fire purify our souls. We believe that you comfort those who mourn, uplife those who are depressed, calm those who are angry, guide those who are confused, console those who are lonely, reconcile those who are estranged, and bring joy to all who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. We pray that you will live in our simple and humble hearts, and so make us truly temples of your glorious love.”

- Erasmus (1469-1536)

Praying with Kierkegaard

March 26, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | No Comments

kierkegaard.jpg

“O Lord Jesus Christ, I long to live in your presence, to see your human form and to watch you walking on earth. I do not want to see you through the darkened glass of tradition, nor through the eyes of today’s values and prejudices. I want to see you as you were, as you are, and as you always will be. I want to see you as an offense to human pride, as a man of humililty, walking among the lowliest of men, and yet as the savior and redeemer of the human race.” 

-  Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)

Praying with Clement of Rome

February 16, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | No Comments

stclement1.jpg“Grant us, Lord, we beseech you, your grace. Pity the poor, encourage those who are sick, enlighten those whose spirits are in darkness, heal the sick, guide the confused, feed the hungry, release those who are unjustly imprisoned, support the weak, comfort the faint-hearted. Let all the nations of the world know that you are God, that Jesus Christ is your child, and that we are your people.”

- Clement of Rome (c. 96)

Order My Day - Praying with Aquinas

February 13, 2007 | Filed Under prayer | 1 Comment

thomas-aquinas.jpg

“Most merciful God, order my day so that I may know what you want me to do, and then help me do it. Let me not be elated by success or depressed by failure. I want only to take pleasure in what pleases you, and only to grieve at what displeases you. For the sake of your love I would willingly forgo all temporal comforts. May all the joys in which you have no part weary me. May all the work which you do not prompt be tedious to me. Let my thoughts frequently turn to you, that I may be obedient to you without complaint, patient without dejection, and serious without solemnity. Let me hold you in awe without feeling terrified of you, and let me be an example to others without any trace of pride.”

- Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274)