Tuesday 25 February 2025

Psalm 84

Background
As we continue reading Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, he talks about praying to God.

Individuals, local churches and some church traditions often have a style of prayer that clearly defines their approach to public worship and private devotion. For example they might mostly use set written prayers. Alternatively their prayers may be more extempore – that is without preparation – as they are led by the Holy Spirit in a more charismatic style.

In my youth at the Anglican church where I became a Christian, the public prayers were predominantly from a fixed liturgy and we were taught about personal prayer as a basic frame into which we could bring our own words of praise, confession, petition etc. At the Baptist church my friends attended the public prayers were undoubtedly extempore.

My impression is that in recent years (I'm talking in very general terms here) Methodist worship has become used to a mix of set and extempore prayer. This is no surprise and the Sermon on the Mount teaches both.

In chapter 6 Jesus gives us the text of the Lord’s Prayer – to be followed in outline or prayed exactly and thoughtfully. Here in chapter 7 Jesus invites us when in need to ask God (ie pray), but he doesn't provide a set form of words.

Towards the end of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings Sam, faithful friend to one of the main characters, Frodo Baggins, is alone and weary. He feels defeated as if all is lost. Tolkien writes: “And then softly, to his own surprise, there at the vain end of his long journey and his grief, moved by what thought in his heart he could not tell, Sam began to sing.... And then suddenly new strength rose in him, and his voice rang out, while words of his own came unbidden to fit the simple tune.”

As Sam prays/sings he is drawn to a bigger picture, to the language of God's kingdom. He draws on familiar words and is given words new and unbidden. He does not specifically ask but he is answered. In a similar vein, our prayers to God will be answered.

To Ponder:

• What has shaped your pattern of prayer over the years?
• What prayers do you know by heart?
• Have you known moments in prayer that resonate with Sam’s experience?

Prayer

Here is a written prayer you may use. I also invite you to hold your life, hopes and concerns in stillness for a period and see what prayer, spoken or unspoken, forms in your heart and mind.

Holy God, I bring my soul and body to some moments of rest before you. Help me to wait with patience and face the future without an agenda. May I be open to your word and trust in your promise for the future. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Bob Sneddon
Bob Sneddon is a retired presbyter who lives on the south coast of England. He has had five varied circuit appointments over some 40 years and before that worked in India for a year. In retirement he is enjoying making a garden and walking.