Below is the prayer mentioned in last Sunday's sermon:
Hold your hands in a fist, like you’re going to fight.
I confess that my natural human posture is to fight for myself, it’s to make something happen, it’s to defend. But I find, as a renewed human being in the grace of Jesus Christ that I can open up my hands, to raise them up in a posture of surrender, and in a posture of praise. I celebrate the Lordship of Jesus in my life today. You can have all there is in me… my blessings, my concerns, my despair, my frustrations, my desires… they’re all yours.
Hold your hands in front of you in fists again, but like you’re hanging on to something.
I confess that my natural human posture is to take, is to keep, is to hold, is to hang on, but I find as a renewed person in the grace of Jesus Christ, that I can open my hands to receive.
Now take a few moments to ask for what you need to receive… wisdom, strength, courage, hope. And now ask…
Lord, I’m going to keep my hands open today, watching for where I can share all that I’ve received just now.
Now, cross your arms in front of yourself.
I confess that my natural human posture is to stand at a distance, to spectate, to say, “It’s not my problem.” But I find, as a renewed person in the grace of Jesus Christ, that I can open myself to receive the world as it is, knowing that, in Christ, I am ultimately safe. And I say to those who are in turmoil that seems too big for me to handle, who are suffering, who are starving for relationship, “You’re welcome here. I’m open. You can find space in my life.” I pray this in Jesus name, who promised to be with us and to help us until the end of the age.
Danielle Strickland, The Other Side of Hope