How do the whole-life ideas shape the way we pray on our Frontlines? There are varied responses we might want to give to this, but as a start here is a great and simple idea from a series preached by Robert Gelinas, lead pastor at Colorado Community Church and self-styled Jazz Theologian (It is well worth checking out his excellent blog) in September ‘09. Hear or download the talks here...
Over the course of six weeks, Gelinas explores a number of passages (2 Chron 6:18-21, James 1:1-5, Is 29:13-14, Eph 1:15-20, Eph 3:14-21, Mk 9:14-24) and emphasises that many prayers in the Bible are in the plural rather than the singular. Think, for example, of the Lord’s Prayer. The voice of the prayer is not 'me' but 'us'. But how often do we pray it in a way that recognises this?
Gelinas suggests that we model our prayer on this plural model:
Instead of I say we. Instead of me say us.
Obvious and simple really…but in practice life changing for Christians on the Frontline. When we face difficult or challenging situations our typical response when we pray is to ask God to help me (not a bad prayer). But it is unlikely that we are the only ones who are facing such a situation, so why not instead pray God help us.
