From my book Prayerfully Yours, a request for God’s help in living out the foolishness of the gospel and walking the way of Christ.
Lord,
I am told that the strongest survive –
that in this world it’s a question of never mind the rest
so long as I’m all right.
Yet you call me to another way –
to the way of humility, sacrifice and self-denial.
You stand accepted wisdom on its head,
claiming that the meek shall inherit the earth
and that those who are willing to lose their life will truly find it.
Lord,
it is hard to believe in this way of yours,
and harder still to live by it,
for it runs contrary to everything
I know about human nature,
yet I have seen for myself that the world’s way leads so often to hurt,
sorrow
and division.
Give me, then, courage to live out
the foolishness of the gospel,
and to bring closer the kingdom of Christ
here on earth.
In his name I ask it.
Amen.