humble heart

Next Monday will be my granddaughter Chloe’s ninth birthday.  I love this picture of her praying.  There is something so pure, so humble about the prayers of a child.  I wish I could pray like that.  But the pain of the world is sometimes just too much.  The pain of micro and macro aggressions, personal accusations and small acts of betrayal feel like they rob me of the ability to just simply pray.  I want to rise up and fix things.  I want to join Jesus in tipping over the tables of the money-grubbers and the arrogant.  But as soon as I think that way, I realize that I am one of them. 

How do we then pray?  One way is to pray scripture.  Last week, I prayed these verses:

“The Lord says, ‘I am here to help those who are humble and depend only on me…I know what you are like!  But I will heal you, lead you, and give you comfort, until those who are mourning start singing my praises.  No matter where you are, I, the Lord, will heal you and give you peace.”   Isaiah 57:15,18-19

Lord, we are so ready to receive this healing this peace.  But it will not be ours until it is everybody’s.  Why is this so evident to me, when so many see healing and peace as their own personal right, disregarding the pain and peril of others less fortunate?  When I want to give up hope, this prayer of Graham Cooke further instructs me:

“Wind of God, keep on blowing.  Sail over the barriers that we build to divide ourselves from each other.
Fire of God, keep on burning…in the hearts of people where oppression, unemployment and poverty devalue their humanity.
Tongue of God, keep on speaking…speak justice where ideas clash and mercy where power reigns.”

A prayer like that reminds me that God is God and I am not.  It instructs me not only in how to pray, but how to act, as do these words from Philippians 4:

“Always be gentle with others…pray about everything…let the peace that no one can completely understand control the way you think and feel and act…keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy…don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile.”

In other words, never stop thinking about Jesus, because only Jesus is true, pure, right, holy and truly worthwhile ALL THE TIME.

“And I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will bless your life.”  Philippians 4:23

Happy birthday, Chloe.  Your image of humble prayer inspires me today and every day.

Love, Liz 

P.S.  Happy birthday to your mama Kimberly who shares your special day, as well.