When our Words are His Words

Paul McCain’s post on daily Matins (read it here) got me thinking about the Matins services at my church.

Some years ago, we had a “ministry planning” event at Redeemer. One of the top priorites the members expressed was an increase and fostering of prayer. Along with several Bible studies and sermon series, I began offering Matins on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Few come. Few, as in I’m lucky when two or three come. What is most frustrating is when there are people at the church two minutes before it begins who make weak excuses as to why they won’t or can’t come. I go into the sanctuary to pray, they sit in the office talking to the secretary.

I can understand some reluctance. Perhaps they don’t know–or don’t remember–the  service. Maybe they’re afraid of getting lost in the hymnal. Maybe they don’t want to be “stuck” there, even though I assure them it’s a 10-15 minute “prayer service.”

Maybe the don’t understand what prayer really is. Prayer is not me kickin’ back with Jesus. Prayer is not finding stuff for me to ask God for.

Prayer in its ultimate form is loosing one’s self and selfishness and finding one’s self in God. It is when my words are His Words, when my will is His Will, when my voice is gone and Christ’s voice remains. It is the Psalms, pointing to Christ, and those words being my words to God. Making His thoughts my thoughts, not by effort, but by emptying myself, denying myself and praying Christ’s Words to Christ, glorifying God and the Spirit now and forever, world without end.

It is the Body of Christ, in Christ and of Christ, speaking Christ and Christ’s Words to Christ. He is in all (1 Cor. 15:28).

Possibly Related posts:

1. We Pray Unrealistically
2. St. Simeon & Worship
3. The Secret Eucharistic Prayer
4. Wish Dreams and Lutheranism
5. Liturgical and Historical Questions

Thursday, May 14th, 2009 | Tags: prayer, Theology, worship | Category: Theology | Leave a comment