Prayer matters

Deep and hidden things revealed

Searching the Scriptures for a reference to “deep”, I stumbled on Daniel 2 and Daniel’s prayer after God gifted him with knowledge and wisdom and revealed to him “deep and hidden things” that saved many lives and brought God glory.

Prayer in response to answered prayer

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven ²⁰ and said:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
      wisdom and power are his.
²¹ He changes times and seasons;
      he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
      and knowledge to the discerning.
²² He reveals deep and hidden things;
      he knows what lies in darkness,
      and light dwells with him.”

Daniel 2:20-22

May God give you knowledge and wisdom regarding the “deep and hidden things” you face, and may we all be faithful in following Paul’s “urgent” advice in 1 Timothy 2:1-4:

“¹ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

From the blog
Stand still for a moment
Consider this
Small talk

Open time for pause and restoration

On the seventh day — with the canvas of the cosmos completed — God paused from His labor and rested. Thus God blessed day seven and made it special — an open time for pause and restoration, a sacred zone of Sabbath-keeping, because God rested from all the work He had done in creation that day.

Genesis 2:2-3, The Voice

Morning prayer

Lord God, the source of all good things,
we pause in your presence and hold our day before you.
Still us, calm us, guide us as we enter this day.

~ posted on Third Space.

From the blog
More to come
Open ending
3 Prayers while waiting

Pause/Pray

Let me tell you about …

“Express” prayers to fit into your day

My friends at engageworship.org have this great resource, a podcast they call Pause/Pray. The latest season (Season Three) contains thoughtful reflections around 3 minutes long you can fit into your day.

Currently available from Pause/Pray season Three:
Pause before meal
Daily transition moments
Prayer during stressful moments
Short breather
As I begin to work
Short anxiety prayer
Short morning prayer

Also check out Pause/Pray seasons One and Two, and the many other resources Engage Worship has on offer, including a free video series for worship teams in local churches, entitled How Would Jesus Lead Worship.

From the blog
In quietness and trust is your strength
Time together
Quiet near a little stream

Time to pause

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

August, the in between month

We need off time.
We need thinking time.
We need slower time.
We need bored time.
We need mind wandering time.
We need time without the doing.
That time isn’t just a pause, or a break,
it is also the way onto whatever lies ahead.

by Anne Brones, from creativefuel.substack.com

From the blog
Theme for July 2020: Time
Open ending
Amazing to consider

A pregnant pause

Take time this week to pause and savour these words, inspired by Paul’s teaching on the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 3:22-23.

A litany

Lord, may we bear the fruits of your Spirit:
give us love,
that boundless, healing energy that transforms the world; (pause)
give us joy,
because no darkness or evil can overcome you; (pause)
give us peace,
to quiet our hearts, and to free us from bitterness; (pause)
give us patience,
to go on following you even when it is hard; (pause)
give us kindness,
to reach out to our neighbour and to the person who needs to be loved; (pause)
give us goodness,
to give with a generous heart and without ulterior motive; (pause)
give us faithfulness,
to stay at your side, come what may; (pause)
give us gentleness,
to respect the freedom and integrity of others; (pause)
give us self-control,
to see our weaknesses and overcome them in your strength. (pause)
Lord, may we bear the fruits of your Spirit.

written by Angela Ashwin, from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #857

From the blog
Summer-friendly spiritual practices (gardening, swimming, journaling)

Slowly but surely

Daily / van liefde (from love) – collage by Irene Bom

Call to worship

inspired by Jeremiah 33:14-16

The time is surely coming
when our love for one another
and all of God’s children will increase.
We would live into that time
with hope and joy.

The day is surely coming
when God will strengthen our hearts
with humility and holiness.
We would anticipate that day
as we reach out to serve
all of those in need.

The days are surely coming
when we will walk the paths
of faithfulness and steadfast love.
We begin this journey,
knowing that all of God’s promises
will be fulfilled.

~ written by Thom Shuman, posted on re:worship

SUMMER SCHOOL: CREATIVE ASSIGNMENT

Create your own collage inspired by the phrase, “slowly but surely”.

From the blog
Make us a chalice
The fruit of lips
Thank you. For the sunrise

Slowly learning

Thirst

a prayer poem

Another morning and I wake with thirst

for the goodness I do not have. I walk

out to the pond and all the way God has

given us such beautiful lessons. Oh Lord,

I was never a quick scholar but sulked

and hunched over my books past the

hour and the bell; grant me, in your

mercy, a little more time. Love for the

earth and love for you are having such a

long conversation in my heart. Who

knows what will finally happen or

where I will be sent, yet already I have

given a great many things away, expect-

ing to be told to pack nothing, except the

prayers which, with this thirst, I am

slowly learning.

by Mary Oliver, from Devotions: The selected poems of Mary Oliver, p. 141

SUMMER SCHOOL: CREATIVE ASSIGNMENT

Write a prayer poem, inspired by Mary Oliver’s offering.

From the blog
In the school of prayer with Eddie Askew
The empty cup
Re-turn

Slow us down

Prayer of Confession

O God, we long to rest in you,
      to trust in your goodness,
      in your care for us,
      in your abundant life.
But we don’t know how to rest
      and we have forgotten how to trust:
We seek material goods that we don’t really need.
We befriend people not always out of love.
We ask questions of you like the Sadducees did of Jesus,
      questions that try only to prove our point,
      not to grow in understanding of your desires for us.
Slow us down, Holy One.
Attend to us, Holy One,
      and show us that you are our salvation and our resting place.

~ by Rev. Catherine Rolling, posted on re:worship

From the blog
In quietness and trust is your strength
Broken spirit sacrifice
3 Ancient prayers

Trust in the slow work of God

Last week I was in Yorkshire for the annual Resound Worship Songwriter Retreat held at Wydale Hall. One afternoon I joined an excursion to Bempton Cliffs, hoping to see a real puffin up close. It didn’t happen for me (others had more luck). I saw lots of birds though, and stunning scenery. Along the cliff path I also stumble on this blooming thistle with a bumble bee bumbling about, sampling the nectar.

May you find time this summer to bumble about and sample things that are sweet and nourishing for your heart and mind and soul.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said,

“Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We would like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet, it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability — and that it may take a very long time. Above all, trust in the slow work of God, our loving vine-dresser.”

from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Enuma Okoro, p. 335

From the blog
When hot and bothered
All my days and forever
Bright and beautiful