“In the spring, when Kings go forth to war…..”
(2 Samuel 11:1)
Loving God, we look to your word for guidance, learning from the good and the bad, the best and the worst. Sadly, we learn that war has been ever thus. And here we are again. We have learned that Kings and leaders really don’t go forth to war. They send others. And war is not just for spring.
In the beauty of autumn the sounds of war are everywhere: bombs and tears, sirens and fear, guns and terror, evil of every kind. Holy God, people don’t turn to us, or You, or Your church for news. They turn to us for hope. You are the Prince of Peace. You invited us as peacemakers to be known as Your children. You have prioritized peace. We can confess that we have failed at peace, but we cannot give up on peace. Your heart’s desire must be our heart’s desire.
Today, God, we need to be blunt. We need You to insert Your Holy Self into every nook and cranny of our war torn and terror filled world. Bang on the door of every heart, shout in every ear, light up burning bushes everywhere. Break through all that is humdrum, all that is stultified by our apathy, all the excuses, all the slogans.
We are Your servants, yes. We are Your followers, true enough. Use us, we pray , and we mean that. But we need You, Your will, Your heart, Your power.
This prayer is not rote, as pro-forma, or ritual. Today we cry out to You with the agony we normally reserve for our most personal and urgent need. God, this is personal. This is urgent.
Long ago those struggling disciples in fear roused you Jesus from sleep to calm the storm. We are today’s struggling disciples, in fear, begging You to calm the storm. You bent the rules of nature once. Do it again.
AMEN.
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