Worship on the
Web |
 |
PRAY NOW: TODAY'S PRAYER
Conversion
Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they
led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
Acts 9:8
Prayer
The light that blinded me has made me see,
That before, I could not see,
Nor had I been looking. . .
The road I travelled so confidently
Promising to take me where my real business was –
Its every mile informed by my purpose, my itinerary –
Is suddenly a detour I now stumble along. . .
The destination I was so sure of reaching,
Because I knew what I wanted to do when I got there,
Is now no goal, but just 'what's next' in my wandering . . .
And yet:
In my blindness I am glimpsing truth – at last.
In my lostness – at last – I know at least where I am not.
My very aimlessness – my goal, my purpose now snatched away –
Are inklings of your purpose for me.
And still I journey on, to where I was going,
Because now, when I get there, I will know
That this was never where I was really going,
Never to be the end of my journeying. . .
A conversion, a turning-around – yet still I travel in the same direction.
What has changed? Nothing – and everything.
You stood in my way, and would not let me pass;
Not as the 'me' I was.
So I give up what I was, yield myself to you.
Walk with me now, and teach me who I am; help me to accept what I shall be.
For who I am, and who I shall be, are yours to give.
Readings
Numbers 22:1 – 23:12 The King sends for Balaam
2 Kings 5:15–19 Naaman is cured
Matthew 9:9–13 Jesus calls Matthew
Luke 19:1–10 Jesus and Zacchaeus
Acts 9:1–9 The Conversion of Saul
2 Corinthians 12:1–11 Paul's Visions and Revelations
Philippians 3:2–17 The True Righteousness
Prayer activity
A simple but effective monkey trap is made like this; take a jar with a narrow
neck, place a nut in it, and tie it to a stake. The key is that the neck of the jar must
be wide enough for a monkey's open hand, but not his clenched fist. Eventually
a monkey will come along and investigate, and, detecting the nut, will reach in
his arm to grab it. But he won't be able to bring himself to let go of his prize, and
so he will be caught.
Clench your fist. What are you holding? What is holding you fast? What can't
you relinquish, to accept the freedom that God offers in Christ? Prayerfully seek
to identify it - then let go of it.
Prayer for the Church
Imaginative and spiritually astute vision that enables the Christian Church to engage
with 21st-century challenges and opportunities
especially those concerned with Panel on Review and Reform, 'Future Focus'
facilitators, Church Without Walls and Council of Assembly.
Blessing
'Let me no more my comfort draw
From my frail grasp of thee;
In this alone rejoice with awe
Thy mighty grasp of me.'
John Campbell Shairp
God tease from our grasp
The things that hold us fast
So that we may know his grasp of us
In the freedom of faith, that binds us to him.
[Back
to Pray Now introduction]
[top of page]
|
