Category Archives: RevGalPrayerPals

God is like…

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I received this prompt for prayer writing in my email today from Rachel Hackenberg at faithandwater.com: 

A frequent scriptural image used to identify God’s faithfulness is rock. “For who is God except the LORD? And who is a rock besides our God?” (Psalm 18:31) I thought that I might write a prayer today using new images for God’s faithfulness . . . but to my surprise, I’m stumped! What is more constant than a rock?! My cell phone, which is constantly by my side? It will glitch and die just before its two-year contract expires. The sun, rising every morning? Its lifespan is only as long as the day. The river, with its endless run toward the ocean? Its paths are ever-shifting and eroding, and its ecosystem varies depending upon pollution, salinity, droughts & floods.
So I pose the challenge to you for your creativity in prayer: what image of faithfulness might you use to describe God?

 I wrote this prayer, which doesn’t exactly capture the idea of faithfulness, but does consider some different similes for God (cross-posted at revgalblogpals.org).

“For who is God except the LORD? And who is a rock besides our God?” (Psalm 18:31)
God, you are like water- present in all living things, surrounding us at birth, above us, below us, besides, within.
Holy Parent, you are like the scent of cinnamon and vanilla- comforting, pervasive, overwhelming, mouth-watering, magnetic.
Spirit of Hope, you are like calculus- mysterious, enigmatic, amazing when understood, an explanation for how things work, essential, but just beyond my grasp.
Jesus, you are my brother- teaching, teasing, wrestling, hide-and-seek, companion of long nights, fellow traveler, of the same stuff as me and yet even more. Even when I don’t speak to you, I cannot undo that I am your family.
Amen.


What are your images for God and for God’s faithfulness? 

A Prayer for Suicide Prevention

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On World Suicide Prevention Day: 

God of all space and time,
There is darkness that exists which feels impenetrable.
Darkness that seems to overcome all light.
Darkness which swallows the will to live,
The desire to go on,
The possibility of grace,
The existence of hope.
There is darkness in this world, in some hearts, in some minds…
Darkness which makes a person feel separated from You and from Love.
You have created a light which no darkness can overcome,
But sometimes the darkness seems too great.
On this day, be with those who feel surrounded by darkness…
Who are afraid to speak of their plans,
Who are pondering in their hearts what seems the only end to their pain.
Be with those who have reached out, but not been believed.
Be with people who are left behind, who have questions, who blame themselves.
Send your Spirit of consolation and hope into the world on this day,
Turn up the Light of Love- burnish and banish the darkness,
Strengthen all to speak, to listen, to hold, and to share.
Holy God, we ask for the kind of peace- in hearts, minds, and all creation- that can only come from you.
Gracious God, hear our prayer.
And in your mercy, answer us.

Cross-posted at RevGalPrayerPals