Chilcote took this prayer that is divided into four roughly equal parts and provided a theme for each section:
Part 1: Who is God to me? (first paragraph of prayer)
Part 2: What can I give to and ask of God? (second)
Part 3: How does God shape my life? (third)
Part 4: How do I live as a disciple of Christ? (fourth)
Today, we continue with part one from Chilcote.
Scripture
“The Lord upholds all who are failing, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.” - Psalm 145:14-19
Meditation
When I was in high school, our church choir sang an amazing anthem based on Psalm 145:15-16. Every now and then the haunting melody of “The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee” floats into my consciousness, bringing with it a flood of memories and a sense of God’s presence and provision. The psalmist envisions a world in which God provides for our needs – both physical and spiritual – and God’s plentiful gifts satisfy everyone. The human family struggles to realize that vision in a broken world, despite the fact that we are united in our need. Perhaps this is one reason why Jean Berger composed his anthem with all voices singing the same rhythm at the same time – one united chorus.
Like the anthem, the needs of the world often build to a climax until we realize that only God can satisfy the desire of every living thing. In the midst of our need, one fact remains clear: God provides enough to satisfy every person on this globe in every possible way. Whenever we gather around the Lord’s Table to celebrate our Family Meal, God reminds us through a sign-act of love that Christ satisfies all our needs. But the Table also stands as a reminder to us of those who have no food. The Bread of Life offers himself for us, satisfies the desire of every heart, and invites us to become his body – God’s provision – in the world. That is part of what it means to grow up to Christ in all things (Eph 4:15).
Prayer
Gracious Lord, you are the Bread of Life, who provides for all my needs and satisfies the deepest longing of my heart: graft me into the very center of your great tree of life; feed me, nourish me, and care for me like a tender vine that I might grow into Christ in all things. Amen.
As a recap if you would like to read it, here is the great prayer from Elizabeth Rhodes:
"Grant me, gracious Lord, a pure intention of heart, and a steadfast regard to your glory in all my actions. Possess my mind continually with your presence, and fill it with your love, that my whole delight may be to repose in the arms of your protection. Be light to my eyes, music to my ears, sweetness to my taste, and full contentment to my heart. Be my sunshine in the day, my food at the table, my repose in the night, my clothing in company, my succor in all necessities.
Lord Jesus, I give you my body, my soul, my substance, my fame, my friends, my liberty, and my life. Dispose of me, and all that is mine, as seems best to you, and to the glory of your blessed name. I am not my own, but yours; therefore claim me as your right, keep me as your charge, and love me as your child. Fight for me when I am assailed, heal me when I am wounded, and revive me when I am destroyed.
My Lord and my God, I ask you to give me patience in troubles, humility in comforts, constancy in temptations, and victory over all my ghostly enemies. Grant me sorrow for my sins, thankfulness for my benefits, fear of your judgments, love of your mercies, and mindfulness of your presence for evermore. Make me humble to my superiors and friendly to my equals, ready to please all and loathe to offend any; loving to my friends and charitable to my enemies. Give me modesty in my countenance, gravity in my behavior, deliberation in my speech, holiness in my thoughts, and righteousness in all my actions. Let your mercy cleanse me from my sins, and your grace bring forth in me the fruits of everlasting life.
Lord, let me be obedient without arguing, humble without feigning, patient without grudging, pure without corruption, mercy without lightness, sad without mistrust, sober without dullness, true without duplicity, fearing you without desperation, and trusting you without presumption. Let me joyful for nothing but that which pleases you, and sorrowful for nothing but what displeases you: that labor be my delight which is for you, and let all weary me that is not in you. Give me a waking spirit, and a diligent soul, that I may seek to know your will, and when I know it may I perform it faithfully to the honor and glory of your ever blessed name. Amen."
Part Twelve coming next Monday...
pcraig
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