As I came to write a prayer for Sunday several things came together in my thoughts (like a perfect storm you could say, whether that was a good thing or a bad thing I'll let you be the judge). A trip on my day off out to Piha on the West Coast of Auckland, with its iconic Lion Rock (see image above). Both Lion and Rock are imagery from the psalms that are used to speak of God. Reading Psalm 28: 1-9 for my daily devotion and the fact that its children's day here in New Zealand on Sunday, and i was contemplating what a prayer in kid speak might be like... . and a video from a band called Zealand worship of their song "you love is wild"
and I couldn't get past a play on the word Rock...
...rock as the psalmist uses it to mean a solid place to stand a fortress and a refuge....
... and rock as a way of saying someone is really good but with real zing and vitality.
So once again I offer a simple prayer of thanksgiving and confession. I hope it inspires and connects who you are with who God is... feel free to use it or part of it or none of it. Blessings
God, you
Rock
Like the psalmist
says you are a rock,
A solid
place to stand, a tower and a refuge.
Over the
constant numbing drone of everydayness
Over that myriad
the voices competing for attention
even amidst
the howling storms of our lives
and the Huge
issues that shake us like loud crashing waves
You hear our
voice
You hear our
cry for help
Over the
grumbling and the back stabbing
The put
downs and the brush asides
the false promises
of hope and help
fake news
and alternative truth
you are not
silent
you speak your
word
we thank you
and we sing your praise
you are
faithful and constant in your love
you are
trustworthy and dependable
we don’t
make it because we are tough enough
but because
you are our strength and shield
you shepherd
and carry us…you are our rock!
God you
Rock!
There is
something wild, untameable and wonderful about your love.
It makes our
hearts leap and our feet dance for joy.
In Jesus, it
threw off eternity, like a coat, and stepped into our world
proclaimed
good news, Healed the sick, welcomed home the outcast
showed us an
alternative way to live, full of your peace and justice
It gave its
life on the cross carrying the burden of all we’ve done wrong
It rolled
the stone away, and rose giving us new abundant life
It is the dynamic
power of your presence that lives in us by the Holy Spirit
It breaks
down every barrier, that would divide and hold us down
The chains of
sin, guilt and shame are shattered by its mercy
Our wounded
souls and dinged up lives find wholeness in it care
The call to
share the love we have in Christ gives life its greatest purpose
We come together from all over, as we are made one, in its embrace
We come together from all over, as we are made one, in its embrace
Young and old,
men and women, from all lands and tribes, as your family.
We thank you
today for that wild untameable love
We ask that
you surround us, immerse us in that love
We confess
our sins and pray that you would forgive and make clean
Pour out
your Holy Spirit, to lead and guide and empower us to love
Open our eyes
to see where you are calling us to risk loving as you love
Glory to
God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit… you Rock!
Oh and here is the video for 'your love is wild'...
Oh and here is the video for 'your love is wild'...
No comments:
Post a Comment