A Prayer To Help Me Consider How I Am Following the Way of Jesus

 During these 40 days of Lent leading up to Easter we are invited to more intentionally consider how we are following the way of Jesus and allowing His grace and character to be more and more reflected in all we do and say.  Now I hope that what God brings to mind for each of us during these 40 days sticks with us going forward because that’s the whole point isn’t it?  We’re not just doing something out of the blue to show we are “spiritual” but rather we are longing for God to deepen our desire for His heart to be our heart and His ways be our ways.

What I love about God is that He invites us to leave all manner of ugliness behind – which is a good thing to do in itself – I mean, who wants the ugly dirty bits?  But, then on top of that God describes so many promises of blessing that will result.  Now I’m just going to pick out a very few verses from the prophet Isaiah but look at what God calls us out of and what magnificent promises will come if we will just move in His direction:

Isaiah 58:9b-12:  “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry and help those in trouble.

Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. Isaiah 58:9b-12

So, if I count it correctly there are 3 things to do, 2 things to stop and 7 or 8 amazing things that will take place in our life.

Who of us doesn’t want to work for justice and see the yoke of oppression removed from people?  When we see folks hungry and in trouble there’s nothing more gratifying than to be able to help out.  Isn’t it about time we stop accusing and condemning and speaking negatively about others – especially since there’s plenty in our own lives that people could accuse and speak about isn’t there?

On the basis of just those moves in God’s direction He generously promises us light in dark times.  I’ll take some of that during these dark and difficult days of the pandemic, wouldn’t you?  Continual guidance – well, with things changing from day to day and week to week we certainly need guidance that is up to date and personally directed to us in our daily living, don’t we?  But then it goes on and promises water when we are dry and our strength restored.  Only God knows in what ways our hearts and lives need freshening up and watering for softness that promotes growth.  I don’t think we can decide what gets watered – God is a more knowledgeable landscaper and gardener than we are. 

But what a beautiful picture God gives us – we won’t be a tired little bit of a backyard vegetable patch but “You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.”  Doesn’t that sound brilliant?

And then there’s even more because the amount of blessing and refreshing that God gives us is always enough for where we are at and plenty more with with to bless others.  Here’s the picture of how God promises that to us:

Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. Isaiah 58:11b-12

We see so much broken down in our cultures and generations and God promises to use us as rebuilders and restorers.  Walls protect and homes provide safety and security and a place of belonging and being loved.  God will use us, who knows in what ways, but He will use us to do be a part of His great plans to do just these things we all long for. 

Our part:  stop harbouring resentments, badmouthing others, help the poor and work for justice.  Why do we find it so hard to do these simple things when so much is promised?

Lord, we are a self-centered people who too often live for our own convenience and comfort.  We tell You and tell others that we want to follow You and yet in so many everyday ways we get sidetracked from Your simple straightforward agenda and get wound up in knots about things that we think need to happen today.  Forgive us Lord for the arrogance of trusting our own short-sighted understanding of our lives today and help us to turn away from these ways of thinking to what You so simply and clearly call us to focus on today.

We are just going to mirror the words of the prophet Isaiah when we commit to You today to work to remove the heavy yoke of oppression many bear today.  We will not be part of any finger pointing and vicious rumors – root them out of our thoughts and memories as well as out of our mouths and actions.  Give us grace today to do something for those who are hungry and in trouble.  Help us to act today – something, anything small or large as You put it on our heart – kind words or donations or help with errands or a note, a card … the ways are endless that we can use to help others and feed not only their stomachs but their souls.

We open our hearts to receive Your light shining in our darkness; to recognizing and following Your guidance that is coming to us continually.  Help us to recognize the refreshing You are pouring into our lives today and be strengthened by it.  Move our gaze from what we think we need to be refreshed to simply opening our lives to however You are refreshing us. 

Lord, work in us today, by Your Spirit.  We so long to be those who rebuild in lives that are deserted ruins.  Help us to build walls of protection and to be those who are useful in the ministry of reconciliation You say that we’ve all been given through Jesus.  Let it begin today.  Let it begin with us.  We pray, in Jesus’ name.  Amen