June 18, 2022
Thank you for a night’s rest. Thank you for your peace. To close my eyes and trust you to do what you do best. Well, everything you do, you do best. Thank you for taking care of me. For calming my anxiety. Thank you for showing your love to me. You are my Father, my Friend, Mentor, my everything.
Thank you for hearing and answering prayers even when the answer isn’t evident right away. You know, I’ve grown up (and I think most Christians have), with the statement that you answer prayers in three ways:
Yes
No (Even though lately I’ve been hearing folks say, “I have something better for you.”)
Wait
But I am curious, because in my relationship with you, you rarely give such simplistic answers to any question. And I’m kinda thinking that these answers truly do reduce you to something of a genie. Why I say that? Because it means we only talk to you when we want something and that should not be. Plus I think about Jesus’ time here on earth. He told stories, he taught us. Aren’t you still doing the same thing now? There’s correction: and correction isn’t like the way we do it, “No! Don’t!” and no explanation why. Granted in case of emergencies, there is probably an immediate, “stop,” but after the crisis you explain – if we will listen.
You’re anxious because … so you need to stop doing that.
I need you to pray for so and so (sometimes I know why, other times I don’t).
There are so many ways you speak with us, that it’s a disservice to who you are to limit you to three answers. I mean, you created so many types of birds. Just on this island alone there are over two hundred endemic species, why would we think you are down to only three answers to give us to our prayers? Plus we should not limit our prayers to just asking for things.
Yahweh, thank you for being the best conversationalist in the world. You know how much I like a good conversation. And even when it’s discipline or things I may not want to hear (shame face), it’s still good. Thank you for the many ways that you show your love to us. Thank you for the wonderful complexities of you that are beyond our understanding, yet you still endeavour to share with us. Thank you for who you are. I love you to you and back. You truly deserve all the glory.
The Power of Prayer
So today is Communion and I was reading Luke 11 where it was speaking about prayer and the power of prayer. And then a trio of women got up to sing, “Power in Prayer.” The thing is – I love this song. I actually learnt it and sang it with my sister-in-law. But it has both good and bad memories. That recording occurred on one of the worst nights I ever had. And hearing the song again honestly had me both praising Yahweh and crying remembering that night. I actually hadn’t listened to the song since it was played for the programme. But despite the memories (which I hadn’t thought about in a while), I will continue to praise you Yahweh. I will continue to trust you. And I will remember that there is power in prayer.
And everyone is asking for the song to be sung again. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
