Breathe in me, Breath of Heaven

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

Adapted from a prayer by St. Augustine

When you don't know what to pray...

Sometimes we're left speechless. Paralyzed by shock or fear or just plain confused, confounded or disoriented.

Sometimes the most open, honest, and sincere prayer is this one; "HELP!"

That's Okay. God knows what we're going through. It's times like that when I may just keep reciting the Lord's prayer, or tell God straight-out, "I don't know what to do, I don't even know what to ask you or how to pray about this..."

Ever get to the point where you either want to follow the age-old advice to "let go and let God,"  but you just don't know how? Or have you been at that place where you just want God to hold you and comfort you and help you fall asleep?

He will. Just like Jesus prayed to the Father for His disciples, the Holy Spirit prays for us too.

"In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." ~Romans 8:26-27

Confident, competent ministers of the Spirit of God's Law

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

- 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

This was Sojourner magazine's verse of the day. I've always argued that the spirit of the law is more important than the letter. Of course, that could be because I've got A.D.D. so bad and I'm terrible with details. No seriously, it makes me think about Jesus scolding the teachers of the law in His day for "screening out a gnat, yet swallowing a camel," in our sinful desire for "justice" and our own pious self-righteousness, we lose sight of the true meaning and intent of God's Word. If only we'd act justly, love mercy and walk humbly- instead of acting pious, loving justice for others but hypocrisy for ourselves and walking smugly with delusions of godliness!

This verse is fascinating because while on the one hand, it talks about how our competence and confidence aren't our own, they're totally unearned, they're entirely God's- on the other hand, it makes clear that we, WE are to be His ministers. Ministers in the spirit of His new covenant. The covenant of love and forgiveness.

I may be a worm, I may, like St. Paul, be "chief among sinners," and yet without any seminary training or official ordination, God wants to use me to minister to others. To administer His love and grace, His mercy and forgiveness.

What an honor.

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