Prayers

Reading "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy" by Eric Metaxas tunes my imagination to what might happen in my own lifetime.

Some cry “discovery” and “deliverance” while others cry “danger” and “division. Help us, Lord, to not fall prey to fear or arrogance, neither to feel that we have it all together, nor to forget that You do. Help us, Lord, to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3) –(amen)–

To the young and the young-at-heart: It is a sad and subtle thing to exchange big dreams for achievable goals, and to do so often results in a life that finds its hope and answers in list-based follow-through, rather than life-giving faith. Beware the shrinking of your horizons and do not too quickly surrender the half-wild fire of youthful ideals for the tame coals of premature age. O God, protect us from surrendering to the ideal of safe options, and keep us recklessly dependent on Your provision ’til the end.

If I am a leader, how should I pray? “[Jesus] said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.’” - Luke 22:25-27 The true leader’s prayer of thanks is not, “Thank You for these people to lead,” but rather, “Thank you for these people to serve.” Indeed, the heart and essence of Christian leadership is Christ-like service, which places the good of the others above our own...

We do not lost heart. We do not fail.  We do not falter. We do not back down or back up, but advance and conquer the darkness with the light of love. We are warriors of the Kingdom and servants of the King.  Chosen and adopted, born again to an everlasting life and destiny, and resolute in this, our cry: Jesus is Lord, He is building His Kingdom, and we will advance it with Him. AMEN.  

[NOTE: My grandfather, J. Bryan "Breezy" Brasington entered eternity on 3/13/11. His life was spent glorifying Jesus, and his death did the same. This prayer was written the day of his memorial, after the service.] Oh the gravity of it all! What a life, what a love, what a Savior, what a charge and legacy...