This morning, a newsletter from Patheos popped up in my email. The above headline caught my eye and I read. It makes so much sense … and I am reminded that “prayer changes us”. Praying for the world at large requires a different mindset. It’s not simply, “O God, rain down your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.” Change begins with me. If you and I are ready to change and be transformed by God, then I believe peace and love between and among neighbors are possible. If I just pray, “Lord, may the perpetrators of deceit realize the hurts they are causing”, or “Lord, let this horrendous violence stop”, I am looking outside of myself. What will I, personally, sacrifice in order that I am a Light in this bleak world? We all have flaws, and if we allow God to heal our ungodly thoughts, behavior and speech, there’s hope that we can become a community of love. To be a peacemaker, I begin with self … if I can speak the language of love, I may be able to reach out to a soul hardened by the flaws of individuals and of the world and leave this disgruntled soul with a shining light which could be passed on … and on … and on.
I want to be clear that by “we,” I mean collectively, as a nation. Not to over-generalize anyone’s faith or practice or belief system. But when it comes to the corporate kind of “the prayers of a nation are with you” kind of prayer, what is meant by “prayer” often comes up short. It is a request to “fix it, Jesus,” with nothing behind it in the form of personal sacrifice or investment. It is a wish lifted to the heavens with nothing required on the part of the one who speaks it.
That ain’t gonna fly.
As my pastor reminded us Sunday in a sermon about prayer– prayer is meant to change us. But it’s not just about us, individually. Prayer is an act of community.
Read the full article here.