A Place at the Table
I read recently: “Prayer is obviously not a routine activity. It is a journey into life, its struggles and its glories. It is sometimes difficult to remember, when the days are dull and schedule is full, that God has known the depths of my emptiness but has healed this broken self regardless…”
Prayer is a journey into life, its struggles and its glories. As I read this, I wondered if we actually approach our prayer time open to celebrating the glories of our life. As I listen to people share their prayer life, it seems to me that most of us approach this time focused on the struggle or as a time for correction. Reading scripture becomes a way for God to point out areas that need improvement or sharing with God the issues in our life that need change, healing or divine intervention. These areas are good as part of our prayer life, but what about the other part, the glory. What about those areas where God has done marvelous things?
When we read Scripture, how often do we see ourselves through the eyes of Jesus; like the eyes that the woman at the well saw, as recorded in the Gospel of John, Chapter 4. What of the eyes of Jesus, as seen by the woman caught in adultery, recorded in John 8? In both these circumstance, society and even the women’s own perception of themselves was less than what The Eyes of Love saw. How often do we approach our encounter with God in light of the loving eyes of Jesus? The Jesus who so loved, that He came and allowed Himself to be crucified, to have our sin laid upon Him so that we might be joined to the Glorious One. How often, and for how long?
If you are not familiar with the passages referenced above, take a moment and read John 4:4-38 and John 8:1-11. Considering John 4, what might the woman at the well have felt as she left her vessel, the symbol of her self-sufficient life, with Jesus? Take some time and imagine her thoughts as she walks back to town. What was foremost on her mind? Let’s look at John 8:1-11. Another woman, whose life was known to be sinful, caught in the very sin. Those that knew the rules knew the consequence prescribed. The Eyes Of Love knew more. Think of the flood of emotions as the woman hears Jesus say, “neither do I condemn you”. What must it have been like for her as she walked away from that encounter? What might she have been thinking? What might she have been feeling?
Tomorrow, when you approach your prayer time, take a moment to reflect on the many glories of the past few days. After your prayer time, write down what came to mind, and what you were feeling. Let this be your gospel reading for the day.
Prayer is a journey into life, its struggles and its glories. As I read this, I wondered if we actually approach our prayer time open to celebrating the glories of our life. As I listen to people share their prayer life, it seems to me that most of us approach this time focused on the struggle or as a time for correction. Reading scripture becomes a way for God to point out areas that need improvement or sharing with God the issues in our life that need change, healing or divine intervention. These areas are good as part of our prayer life, but what about the other part, the glory. What about those areas where God has done marvelous things?
When we read Scripture, how often do we see ourselves through the eyes of Jesus; like the eyes that the woman at the well saw, as recorded in the Gospel of John, Chapter 4. What of the eyes of Jesus, as seen by the woman caught in adultery, recorded in John 8? In both these circumstance, society and even the women’s own perception of themselves was less than what The Eyes of Love saw. How often do we approach our encounter with God in light of the loving eyes of Jesus? The Jesus who so loved, that He came and allowed Himself to be crucified, to have our sin laid upon Him so that we might be joined to the Glorious One. How often, and for how long?
If you are not familiar with the passages referenced above, take a moment and read John 4:4-38 and John 8:1-11. Considering John 4, what might the woman at the well have felt as she left her vessel, the symbol of her self-sufficient life, with Jesus? Take some time and imagine her thoughts as she walks back to town. What was foremost on her mind? Let’s look at John 8:1-11. Another woman, whose life was known to be sinful, caught in the very sin. Those that knew the rules knew the consequence prescribed. The Eyes Of Love knew more. Think of the flood of emotions as the woman hears Jesus say, “neither do I condemn you”. What must it have been like for her as she walked away from that encounter? What might she have been thinking? What might she have been feeling?
Tomorrow, when you approach your prayer time, take a moment to reflect on the many glories of the past few days. After your prayer time, write down what came to mind, and what you were feeling. Let this be your gospel reading for the day.
posted by Pat | 2:45 PM
