Day Eleven — 22 February

Hear our voice, O Lord, according to your faithful love.

Lectionary readings (Click the links to see the readings):

Matthias
Acts 1.14-17,20-26 | Psalm 113 or Psalm 84 | Philippians 3.13-21 | John 15.9-17
Of the day:
Daniel 9.4-10 | Psalm 79.8-13 | Luke 6.36-38

image

Margaret Olley (Australian, 1923-2011). Magnolia, 1989.

Being yourself

The crucial and liberating truth to grasp is that it is actually me-as-I- am that God is wanting to meet when I pray. The incredible fact is God wants to meet me! What a wonderful truth! But how rarely it sinks in. It is because of this that we may have the freedom in prayer to be just who we are, and how we are, with no super-spiritual act, no pretense. It is because God has reconciled us to himself that we are able to meet him in prayer—not because of how we are or the way we feel. This means, then, that I don't have to wait until I'm feeling 'good enough or spiritual enough' to pray.

Paul Wallis, Rough Ways in Prayer (SPCK, 1991)

Felix Mendelssohn. Psalm 22, "Mein Gott, warum," from Drei Psalmen, Op. 78 no. 3.
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, dir. Daniel Reuss

May God our Redeemer show us compassion and love. Amen.