pray without ceasing

i went looking into books my pastor, geoffrey lentz, wrote and i found one he wrote with someone else about praying the scriptures... a way to both pray and study the bible in ways that are very personal. it's about listening to what god is saying to me. it's no longer available but was called learning and living scripture: an introduction to the participatory study method

geoffrey preached on luke the following sunday so i went home and did what the book said and wrote a prayer about the passage.

Have mercy on me, oh God

I am in the wilderness

My soul is hungry for peace

My heart is full of grief

over people and things lost forever

My mind is fueled with fear

of an uncertain future

and the trials yet to come

Help me to remember

that I am led by your Spirit

to guide me through the storms

Do not let me accept a loaf of bread

when you have prepared for me a feast

The world around me is full of evil

Cruelty and apathy abound

The poor are oppressed

The way is hard

and I feel so alone.

I want to look for worldly and political solutions

But know that the only change I can make

is within me.

Help me to listen.

Forgive me when I want you

to perform a miracle

When I look to you for a change of circumstance

rather than a change in my heart

Guide me away from this temptation of despair

and bring me into your kingdom

i found it so helpful that i decided to do it regularly. i chose luke because it has always spoken to me more than any of the gospels. i hope sharing this will help others along in this journey of faith