16th June. 2020. Daily Devotion.

I came upon this quote from a commentary which resonated with me today as I was looking for some thoughts to share. I have highlighted the sentence:

God always answers the general intent of His people’s prayers. He does so not only to reveal His own glory but also to provide for the Christian’s spiritual and eternal welfare. Since we see in Scripture that Jesus Christ never rejected even a single petitioner who came to Him, we can believe that no prayer made in His name will be in vain.

The answer to our prayer may be coming, although we may not discern its approach. A seed that is underground during winter, although hidden and seemingly dead and lost, is nevertheless taking root for a later spring and harvest.

Delayed answers to prayer are not only trials of faith; they also give us opportunities to honour God through our steadfast confidence in Him even when facing the apparent denial of our request.

Reading through the gospels it is true that Jesus never rejected the prayer anyone who approached him. The only person he refused to answer was Pilate when asked to defend himself. Mark 15:5. This should encourage us to persist in prayer. That does not mean that we need to ask again and again, repeating the same words but, as it were, to stand by what we have prayed for. The remembrance of the prayer is all that is necessary. “Ah yes, I have already asked God, so I will wait.” Keep a note of the prayer if you wish. In the days of letter writing, people would write and be content to wait for months, if necessary, for a reply particularly if the recipient was far away. They would not send the same letter every day until a reply came. So, with prayer, trust that it has been received and will be answered.

1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.

7 My salvation and my honour depend on God
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:1-2; 5-8

Praise to the Power of God

How great and how close art Thou in the powerful track of the storm! How mighty Thy right arm in the blinding flash of the lightning! How awesome Thy majesty! The voice of the Lord fills the fields, it speaks in the rustling of the trees. The voice of the Lord is in the thunder and the downpour. The voice of the Lord is heard above the waters. Praise be to Thee in the roar of mountains ablaze. Thou dost shake the earth like a garment; Thou dost pile up to the sky the waves of the sea. Praise be to Thee, bringing low the pride of man. Thou dost bring from his heart a cry of Penitence: Alleluia!

The dark storm clouds of life bring no terror to those in whose hearts Thy fire is burning brightly. Outside is the darkness of the whirlwind, the terror and howling of the storm, but in the heart, in the presence of Christ, there is light and peace, silence: Alleluia! Amen.

By Protopresbyter Gregory Petrov (shortly before his death in a prison camp in 1940).

Light My Path

I come to you, my God, asking that your Spirit guide me in prayer. Lead me to complete devotion in my moments spent with you, Lord, for your Son has told us to come to you and I want to do so, not halfway, but with my full heart.

I know from Him that prayer is for the good of all. For you, because it is your commandment; for myself, because you love me as no other and want to fill me with goodness; for other people, for I want to love them in ways that are not in my nature and can only do if your power shines fully through my existence.

You have sent us your Holy Spirit; let me know Him in all times and in all places and in every cell of my being. When I am confused, the Spirit will bring me wisdom; when I am angry, peace; when I am afraid, comfort. When I have puffed myself up with pride, the Spirit will gently dissolve my self-deception, so that fear and greed and foolishness will melt away and I will know you, and the security and peace of the only truth on earth: the love of Christ. Let this be, Lord, I pray. Light my path. Amen.

Winchester Cathedral Prayer

God of healing and hope, may this time of danger
by your Holy Spirit, bring out the best and not the worst in us.
Show us the ways in which we can share faith and love,
while standing at a distance,
and honour our connection with one another,
and with you,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour, Amen.