And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
The most awesome thing about covenants made with God is that it has two dimensions, the earthly one, and the heavenly one. Jesus gave us the example of this in His prayer, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." John Wesley's prayer asks God to honor and fulfill this covenant. The word itself means to make valid or to receive final approval. We see it used in the making of laws and when the final executive signs it, it becomes law. In this covenant, we are expecting God's approval and "signature" to make it not a law, but our way of life. If all covenants recognized the heavenly dimension of them, we would see less of the troubles we invite into those areas where we make covenants, such as marriage or baptism.
This prayer has signaled our willingness to be in a completely dependent relationship with God. We have surrendered to God and rely and trust wholly on God. We have asked God to be present in every aspect of our lives and we want our lives to bless God and God's people. We want our lives to have an impact not only on the earth, but also in heaven.
PRAYER: God of our lives, let this truly be my prayer as I pray it, "I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen."
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Wesley's Prayer 9
So be it.
Yes, the language of Wesley is slightly different from ours. We rarely say something like "so be it." We might think of this phrase used in an argument one cannot win and a phrase like "so be it" might come with an exclamation point. Our modern language might employ something like "okay." I told you our language is different. Okay doesn't do it justice either, for what I believe Mr. Wesley was saying was "I agree with all my being, body, soul, spirit, strength that what I have prayed I will hold as a sacred promise and covenant." The influence of such a phrase being said like that comes from the early pages of our Bible. As the people are being formed to be truly the people of God, they learned what is call The Shema, "Hear, O Israel, The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shall love the LORD thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." (Deut. 6:4-5). This was later confirmed by Jesus as the greatest commandment and a second one like it, "Thy shall love your neighbor as yourself."
So be it. It is an affirmation of commitment. It is the seal of a covenant or contract made with God. It is an agreement to hold to all that has been said, almost like "And I will, to the best of my ability, with God being my help..." God deserves nothing less and we should give at least our all.
PRAYER: Almighty God, let me and the one who prays this as their own, be one who says with all of my being, that I will do what is expected of me. You know my life and my weaknesses, yet You, unlike others, see the potential in me, so bless me so that I may be a blessing to You and Yours. May my life and my being truly be the words of this precious prayer, "I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it." I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Yes, the language of Wesley is slightly different from ours. We rarely say something like "so be it." We might think of this phrase used in an argument one cannot win and a phrase like "so be it" might come with an exclamation point. Our modern language might employ something like "okay." I told you our language is different. Okay doesn't do it justice either, for what I believe Mr. Wesley was saying was "I agree with all my being, body, soul, spirit, strength that what I have prayed I will hold as a sacred promise and covenant." The influence of such a phrase being said like that comes from the early pages of our Bible. As the people are being formed to be truly the people of God, they learned what is call The Shema, "Hear, O Israel, The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shall love the LORD thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." (Deut. 6:4-5). This was later confirmed by Jesus as the greatest commandment and a second one like it, "Thy shall love your neighbor as yourself."
So be it. It is an affirmation of commitment. It is the seal of a covenant or contract made with God. It is an agreement to hold to all that has been said, almost like "And I will, to the best of my ability, with God being my help..." God deserves nothing less and we should give at least our all.
PRAYER: Almighty God, let me and the one who prays this as their own, be one who says with all of my being, that I will do what is expected of me. You know my life and my weaknesses, yet You, unlike others, see the potential in me, so bless me so that I may be a blessing to You and Yours. May my life and my being truly be the words of this precious prayer, "I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it." I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Wesley's Prayer 8
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine.
This part of John Wesley's prayer took me to the words of the hymn, "I Am Thine," by Ms. Fanny J. Crosby, which is how the hymn begins, "I am thine, O Lord, I have heard thy voice, and it told thy love to me; but I long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to thee." (United Methodist Hymnal, 419). The hymn credits Hebrews 10:22 as inspiration, "let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (NRSV). The prayer and the hymn speak of that intimate relationship Christians should have with God. A relationship so close that we can hear God speak and as Jesus said, "know his voice." A relationship that blesses and guides each day of our mortal lives. Notice also how Wesley sees God, as "glorious and blessed." His part of the relationship kept a perspective on God's character, and was addressed to the members of the Godhead, "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," for Wesley knew the power and blessing of each. Wesley claims God as his and surrenders himself to God.
The Hebrews passage speaks of that need to be close to God, having an "approach" with our hearts to God, knowing the cleansing and power of such a relationship. A surrender to the sacred will mean a cleansing on our part by God. Nothing else will suffice. The relationship we need to possess with God is an eternal one, that nothing nor no one can take away from us (See Romans 8).
PRAYER: Loving God, how awesome and wonderful is Your love towards us. Help me and the one who makes this prayer their own, draw closer to You in a right and blessed relationship to You. Again, my prayer is that my faith and my life might make real this prayer, ""I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine." In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
This part of John Wesley's prayer took me to the words of the hymn, "I Am Thine," by Ms. Fanny J. Crosby, which is how the hymn begins, "I am thine, O Lord, I have heard thy voice, and it told thy love to me; but I long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to thee." (United Methodist Hymnal, 419). The hymn credits Hebrews 10:22 as inspiration, "let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (NRSV). The prayer and the hymn speak of that intimate relationship Christians should have with God. A relationship so close that we can hear God speak and as Jesus said, "know his voice." A relationship that blesses and guides each day of our mortal lives. Notice also how Wesley sees God, as "glorious and blessed." His part of the relationship kept a perspective on God's character, and was addressed to the members of the Godhead, "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," for Wesley knew the power and blessing of each. Wesley claims God as his and surrenders himself to God.
The Hebrews passage speaks of that need to be close to God, having an "approach" with our hearts to God, knowing the cleansing and power of such a relationship. A surrender to the sacred will mean a cleansing on our part by God. Nothing else will suffice. The relationship we need to possess with God is an eternal one, that nothing nor no one can take away from us (See Romans 8).
PRAYER: Loving God, how awesome and wonderful is Your love towards us. Help me and the one who makes this prayer their own, draw closer to You in a right and blessed relationship to You. Again, my prayer is that my faith and my life might make real this prayer, ""I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine." In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Wesley's Prayer 7
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
We sometimes try to compartmentalize our things from the things of God. We know when we are where we should not be, but seek to keep God out. We sometimes believe we should not share with God as we should and have great excuses for not doing so. Being in a house where two grandsons are spending time with each other, I have heard more often than not, the word, "Mine!" It is usually screamed at the other. Both moms have to come and break up the tug of war that is taking place. Many times that scene is replayed in our lives with God.
Wesley's prayer calls us to give everything up to God. It should come as the result of our relationship with God where we recognized years ago that 1) God gives us all things, 2) God provides for all our needs, and 3) we cannot out-give God. That recognition alone should be sufficient in our lives to "freely and heartily" share with God as we should. To counter-balance my grandsons, when they willingly share with each other and with me, it is so tender and sweet it brings tears to my eyes. So should it be with us and our God.
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for all that You have shared with me. There is nothing that I lack in my relationship with me and so, as I pray this prayer may it be true and may it glorify You, "I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal." In Christ Jesus I pray,amen.
We sometimes try to compartmentalize our things from the things of God. We know when we are where we should not be, but seek to keep God out. We sometimes believe we should not share with God as we should and have great excuses for not doing so. Being in a house where two grandsons are spending time with each other, I have heard more often than not, the word, "Mine!" It is usually screamed at the other. Both moms have to come and break up the tug of war that is taking place. Many times that scene is replayed in our lives with God.
Wesley's prayer calls us to give everything up to God. It should come as the result of our relationship with God where we recognized years ago that 1) God gives us all things, 2) God provides for all our needs, and 3) we cannot out-give God. That recognition alone should be sufficient in our lives to "freely and heartily" share with God as we should. To counter-balance my grandsons, when they willingly share with each other and with me, it is so tender and sweet it brings tears to my eyes. So should it be with us and our God.
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for all that You have shared with me. There is nothing that I lack in my relationship with me and so, as I pray this prayer may it be true and may it glorify You, "I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal." In Christ Jesus I pray,amen.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Wesley's Prayer 6
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
Once I became a parent and now as a grandparent, I realized the humorous clamoring of children at times is mine. There is a huge difference between want and need. Children, and some of us, are slow to learn that, for we "need" almost everything we covet or desire. My "want" list is now relatively short, for God has supplied all my needs. Yet, if I ask one of my grandchildren, their "need" list is long. If you don't believe me take them to Toys'Rus or the toy department of any discount store. As soon as their little eyes see something, it is, of course, something they need!
The prayer of Wesley deals with our needs and wants, but keeps it in a healthy perspective. In our relationship with God, we trust God enough to say what Wesley said, if You want to give us all things, I am fine and happy with that; if You chose to give me nothing, I am fine and happy with that. The key is our knowing that as long as God is with us, we will lack for nothing. The very first verse of that famous 23rd Psalm, in King james English, was something we all learned, but it was years before we realized its true, deep meaning. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." I struggled in Sunday school yet didn't ask for fear of revealing what my Sunday school teacher may have suspected about me; but I wanted to ask, "Why do I not want the Lord?" Now I know and rejoice in saying because the Lord is the good shepherd of my life, I lack nothing.
Make God the Good Shepherd of your life and you too, can join David, and others who declare, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
PRAYER: God of all provision, you know my heart and thoughts; make them right and real before You and for me. Let me have the deep faith of those who trusted completely in You so that I can honestly and truly pray, "I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing," I pray in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.
Once I became a parent and now as a grandparent, I realized the humorous clamoring of children at times is mine. There is a huge difference between want and need. Children, and some of us, are slow to learn that, for we "need" almost everything we covet or desire. My "want" list is now relatively short, for God has supplied all my needs. Yet, if I ask one of my grandchildren, their "need" list is long. If you don't believe me take them to Toys'Rus or the toy department of any discount store. As soon as their little eyes see something, it is, of course, something they need!
The prayer of Wesley deals with our needs and wants, but keeps it in a healthy perspective. In our relationship with God, we trust God enough to say what Wesley said, if You want to give us all things, I am fine and happy with that; if You chose to give me nothing, I am fine and happy with that. The key is our knowing that as long as God is with us, we will lack for nothing. The very first verse of that famous 23rd Psalm, in King james English, was something we all learned, but it was years before we realized its true, deep meaning. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." I struggled in Sunday school yet didn't ask for fear of revealing what my Sunday school teacher may have suspected about me; but I wanted to ask, "Why do I not want the Lord?" Now I know and rejoice in saying because the Lord is the good shepherd of my life, I lack nothing.
Make God the Good Shepherd of your life and you too, can join David, and others who declare, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
PRAYER: God of all provision, you know my heart and thoughts; make them right and real before You and for me. Let me have the deep faith of those who trusted completely in You so that I can honestly and truly pray, "I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing," I pray in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Wesley's Prayer 5
Let me be full, let me be empty.
I pray that you have never experienced a time when you were physically empty in whatever definition you choose to give to the word. I also pray that you have never experienced a time of physical hunger that took more time than you thought necessary to receive that which you needed. I thank God that I have never experienced that; for God provided. I have shared with you two experiences in my life when I could have gone hungry, but at the last moment, God provided. What this part of the prayer is saying is that we should receive both those times that are "full" times as well as those "empty" times. A Christian lives with hope and trust in God, that whatever we face is for the moment, however long or short that "moment" may be, but God is still with us and God will have the last word in all things.
In our lives as Christian servants, we may seek to do this or that and we may not get the results we believed we should have gotten, but even if it is a task in which we walk away thinking it was an empty time, don't be so sure. E. Stanley Jones, Methodist missionary to India, when as a young pastor was asked to speak to a group of young people about the missionary field even though he was not yet a missionary himself; in fact, Jones later wrote that the only one touched by his message was himself - God called him out of what he first considered an empty time. Another example was of a report by a missionary on the sadness he felt of only touching two lives in a year of service; but one of those lives touched was a great evangelist who spent the rest of his life reaching thousands for the Lord. I myself, was told by one of my Sunday school teachers, that of all the children she ever taught, I was the last person she would have thought God would call into ministry. It matters not what we think, for it is God who knows and God who decides.
PRAYER: Dear God of the last word, speak to my heart as I prayerfully reflect on Your presence and call on my life. I need You to reassure me that even in times when I think failure is the most appropriate word for what I have done, You speak of a victory. Help me as I pray this covenant prayer that I may truly mean these words, " "I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty." I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
I pray that you have never experienced a time when you were physically empty in whatever definition you choose to give to the word. I also pray that you have never experienced a time of physical hunger that took more time than you thought necessary to receive that which you needed. I thank God that I have never experienced that; for God provided. I have shared with you two experiences in my life when I could have gone hungry, but at the last moment, God provided. What this part of the prayer is saying is that we should receive both those times that are "full" times as well as those "empty" times. A Christian lives with hope and trust in God, that whatever we face is for the moment, however long or short that "moment" may be, but God is still with us and God will have the last word in all things.
In our lives as Christian servants, we may seek to do this or that and we may not get the results we believed we should have gotten, but even if it is a task in which we walk away thinking it was an empty time, don't be so sure. E. Stanley Jones, Methodist missionary to India, when as a young pastor was asked to speak to a group of young people about the missionary field even though he was not yet a missionary himself; in fact, Jones later wrote that the only one touched by his message was himself - God called him out of what he first considered an empty time. Another example was of a report by a missionary on the sadness he felt of only touching two lives in a year of service; but one of those lives touched was a great evangelist who spent the rest of his life reaching thousands for the Lord. I myself, was told by one of my Sunday school teachers, that of all the children she ever taught, I was the last person she would have thought God would call into ministry. It matters not what we think, for it is God who knows and God who decides.
PRAYER: Dear God of the last word, speak to my heart as I prayerfully reflect on Your presence and call on my life. I need You to reassure me that even in times when I think failure is the most appropriate word for what I have done, You speak of a victory. Help me as I pray this covenant prayer that I may truly mean these words, " "I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty." I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Wesley's Prayer 4
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
A spirit of true relationship with God includes our willingness to stand and serve wherever it is that God has placed us. Closely related to the third part of Wesley's prayer, we should be ready to be fully employed for God or recognize those times when it is best we not serve. Along with that we should know that sometimes our employment and service might bring recognition and thanks for what we have done as God's servants; other times we will be ignored and our service and work not even be noticed. Regardless, God's Spirit in us should help us whatever the circumstances or feelings we have; we have done and served as asked by God.
Our humanness at times makes us seek the best and highest for ourselves. We want the key jobs or tasks, and along with it we want the corner office that goes with that. Some even want the biggest paycheck; but it is not about that. It is our willingness to be faithful to God and God's call upon our lives. Our motivation should be obedience to God, not the reward. Our fuel in servanthood to God should be love and nothing else.
PRAYER: Loving God, you know my heart; make right whatever is not geared toward serving You and Yours. Cleanse my mind and thought so that I can fully and truly pray, "I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee." I pray all these things in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
A spirit of true relationship with God includes our willingness to stand and serve wherever it is that God has placed us. Closely related to the third part of Wesley's prayer, we should be ready to be fully employed for God or recognize those times when it is best we not serve. Along with that we should know that sometimes our employment and service might bring recognition and thanks for what we have done as God's servants; other times we will be ignored and our service and work not even be noticed. Regardless, God's Spirit in us should help us whatever the circumstances or feelings we have; we have done and served as asked by God.
Our humanness at times makes us seek the best and highest for ourselves. We want the key jobs or tasks, and along with it we want the corner office that goes with that. Some even want the biggest paycheck; but it is not about that. It is our willingness to be faithful to God and God's call upon our lives. Our motivation should be obedience to God, not the reward. Our fuel in servanthood to God should be love and nothing else.
PRAYER: Loving God, you know my heart; make right whatever is not geared toward serving You and Yours. Cleanse my mind and thought so that I can fully and truly pray, "I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee." I pray all these things in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
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