Change in Ourselves
Some years ago as a Reader in a rural parish, I regularly led services using the Book of Common Prayer. I actually find some of the archaic language very helpful for expressing spiritual truths. These words of the General Confession express powerfully how we so easily distance ourselves from God by our thoughts and actions:
"ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep, We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, We have offended against thy holy laws, We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, And we have done those things which we ought not to have done, And there is no health in us:…"
It is hard to hold fast to God's ways in our own secular society and we can easily make excuses for attitudes and actions that do not please God. Repentance is more than simply acknowledging wrongdoing, it is a change of mind and heart.
Thankfully the prayer goes on to promise how God helps us make the change we seek in ourselves – God will restore us – we can start again – like the new coin.
"But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us miserable offenders; Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults, restore thou them that are penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord: And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen."
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things"
Colossians 3:1-2 [NIV]
Ask God to show you things about yourself that need changing.
Mairi Mowbray
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment