Dangerous
Nothing is more dangerous than this prayer. Nothing is more powerful than this prayer. Nothing invites God into our world more completely than this prayer.
God is sovereign. He can choose to act or intervene or change or shake up or transform our worlds in any way He so chooses. Yet God frequently chooses to wait for us to ask … to pray this dangerous prayer!
“Your will be done!”
Don’t believe this is dangerous? Then go spend time with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 13:32-42). Don’t believe this is both dangerous and glorious? Then go read the words of one of the earliest hymns sung in the early church (Philippians 2:5-11)!
So today, as we say the Lord’s Prayer, let’s pay special attention to the words, “Your will be done!”
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.
Now for some questions related to this theme taken from my Heartlight.org article, Beyond Slogans:
Why do we feel like we have to say something more than “I love you and will stand with you!” when someone faces tragedy, grief, and loss?
- What are other more meaningful things that we can do besides offer folks slogans?
Do you think some of our slogans are intended to defend God when folks are hurt, angry, or feel abandoned by God in a crisis?
- What should we do when folks feel this way toward God?
- How can we help them in ways more important that talk?
What do you consider to be the most meaningful promise found in Romans chapter 8?
- Does it help you understand our disasters to be reminded that we live in a broken world crying out for deliverance from its bondage to decay?
- Why is it important that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us regarding matters that are too deep for words?
- How are the promises of Romans 8:22-29 given power and meaning by the Christ hymn in Philippians 2:5-11 and the example of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 13:32-42)?
Dear Phil………it’s important for us to remember that love is to be emphasized in our everyday lives. Jesus stressed this when he advised that we should love God with all of our heart, mind and soul. He then advised that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves. At one point he used the parable of the ‘good Samaritan’ to illustrate that. In Luke 6:27-36, Jesus tells us not to just love our family members and friends,(most anyone can do that), but also our ememies!
People with problems are opportunities for us to show love to them by helping in whatever way that we can. Likewise, our problems are opportunities for others to show love to us, by helping us in whatever way that they can. I could say more but the space is gone.In Christian love…….Win Genoe
Win Genoe
5 Oct 09 at 9:24 pm