Daily Worship

South

August 26, 2013 0 0

Matthew 6:5-15

And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the love that the South has for you, -

Thank you for among others, my African brothers and sisters -
who love you so much and yet Lord have so little -
they seem to be so content with their material circumstances -
yet we in the North are not, -
we strive for more, -
we want it all -

Thank you that over many long hard years -
the South has received your missionaries from the North, -

thank you for your word that was sewn, often in blood. -

Thank you that your word has not come back void. -

Thank you that those who died or were killed -

They have indeed planted in this good southern soil -
Now your church in the South is vast. -

Lord, -

Help us in the wealthy North to learn from our southern brothers and sisters -
help us to be like them -
to treasure those things that money can’t buy, love, mercy, grace and our lives -
and yet may we be generous givers of these things also -
may we love freely those who are unlovely -
may we mercifully forgive those who we see as doing us wrong -
in grace may we not only forgive, but bless them -
and most of all may we give our lives to you.

We thank you for the wonderful examples of generosity we see in our Southern brothers and sisters -
We ask that we follow their example. -

Thank you that your word planted many years ago has produced a harvest -

In Jesus name -

Amen.