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WHAT IS GOD'S PRAYER?
Psalm 85:1-13
Though its true meaning is often obscured by crass commercialism and
gross over-indulgence, Christmas means that God is for us and with us,
reconciling His sinful world to Himself in the incredible grace of Calvary,
with all the prodigal liberality of His God-sized hear t drawing on His
exhaustless resources to meet our needs. Hence in the teeth of life's
perplexity and pain and pressure, in the face of a planet full of want
and woe, in spite of war and cancer and racism and our own smugness
and spinelessness and selfishness, we move forward with confidence
and hope. Perhaps you will feel constrained to join me in repeating with
deepest sincerity David Redding's petition, "What Is God's Prayer?"
O God, You know my prayers
Before I ask them —
What is Your prayer?
You have done so much for me—
What do You want me to do
For You?
O Lord,
I do not have You
In my power,
Pocketed in this place
To do my religious pleasure.
The whole world
Is in Your hands.
DECEMBER 8