Whoops, I'm late in posting this week...after missing LAST week at that. I am sorry!
At any rate, this week's prayer gives me much to meditate on. I encourage you to pause after each phrase and sit with the words as you incorporate it into your quiet time.
O God,
your never-failing providence sets in order all things both in heaven and earth:
Put away from us, we entreat you, all hurtful things,
and give us those things which are profitable for us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
I love being reminded that it’s God’s providence - His never-failing care - that sets all things in heaven and earth in order. It under-girds our request for “things profitable for us,” which may or may not be the “things we want for ourselves.”
I find that I consistently pray for the things that make me comfortable and happy. I don’t think there is anything necessarily wrong with that, because I know that the Lord cares about the details of our lives. But I rarely leave God room to make the decisions about which things are hurtful, and which are helpful.
I usually decide on that myself and ask Him to rubber-stamp my requests...as if I know what is best for me.
Praying this prayer makes me step back from my demands, in order to allow God access to my life in a deeper way.
Maybe it would be hurtful or detrimental to our spiritual growth to have the success we want so desperately.
Maybe it would be profitable for us to suffer some setbacks, so that we learn to lean in to God more closely.
It's interesting to think about, isn't it?
Let's give God room to work in our lives, and let's watch closely for the ways His providence is putting everything in our spheres into His divine order.
With love,
Rachel