For Transformation in the New Year

Lord Christ, 

Transform my terrors to trust, 

my fears to faith, 

my worries to worship. 

Let anguish melt into adoration.

Resolve my hang-ups with hope. 

Holy Spirit,

Help me to cultivate and share...

Inner peace,

The comfort of quiet and solitude,

A sense of well being,

Contentment,

The joy of living. 

Amen.

This is an aspirational mash-up of today’s Scripture Union* and Henri Nouwen reading - my spiritual goals for a new year. Fight the fear. Build up my hope muscle. Strive for a greater sense of gratitude and contentment. These attributes don’t spontaneously happen at baptism or when one “gets saved.” This is the stuff you work on - with God - every day of your life. That’s my definition of sanctification: the incremental, ongoing development of Christlike qualities. Per John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Click on Labels at the bottom of this post for more prayers on this theme.

* Ronald Blue, quoted on Habbakuk, Bible Knowledge Commentary. Scripture Union, Encounter with God, Q4 2024, page 104.

National Life & the Social Order

Is the language and sentiment outdated? I find great solace in the “national life” and “social order” prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, my go-to prayers for the 2024 election cycle. 

O Lord our Governor,

Send down upon those who hold office the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice; that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people. *

Lord! Lord!  I’m flailing in the quicksand of MAGA, the politics of grievance and Christian nationalism. Polls, headlines and social media pull me under.

You have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect. **

Lord, Lord!  I reach for the “the shining city on the hill,” for the guardrails, for the rule of law, for a United States.

Bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth. ***

Lord! Lord!  Correct and bless America. Save us from ourselves. And save us for your purposes. Amen.

~ ~ ~

1st John 5:4 reminds me about the only “election” that really matters:

 

...because everyone who is born from God defeats the world. And this is the victory that has defeated the world: our faith. (CEB)

———

BCP,  for local government, page 822  *

BCP,  in times of conflict, page 824  **

BCP,  for sound government, page 821  ***