A Storm is Coming. Let us pray!

Almighty and everlasting God, You who are always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and who are willing to give more than either we desire or deserve: Pour down upon us the abundance of Your mercy, forgiving us those things that cause guilt within us, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

This past Sunday we prayed this Collect of the Day. In our tradition, it is the prayer we are called to pray throughout the week of Trinity 12. What a fitting prayer at this time! Especially the second clause, “You who are always more ready to hear than we are to pray,...”. What a word of truth we find here. Our God is always more ready to hear our prayers than we are to pray them. As I sit here waiting for the storm to arrive in our city I find myself still doing as I spent the day yesterday doing ...praying. Even as I like many of you moved items into safer locations and made those last minute preparations for the storm, I prayed. As I am sure that you all did as well. Here, in this hour, following on what Deacon Jarrett shared with us this past Sunday, we are confronted with the truth from which we so often shy away: We are not actually in control of so much. Today you and I live in the palm of the hand of God. This is always the case but today we are reminded and made more powerfully aware of this reality.

And IT is the reality. That we are actually in charge of all things, in control of all things, can order all things according to our wishes, … that is the illusion and not the reality.

There are certainly inconveniences and even dangers involved with some of the effects of such storms, especially the loss of electrical power, that are obvious causes for concern. But what I sense we really loath about the loss of power is the commensurate loss of the sense of a control we never really had in the first place.

A dangerous weather system has spawned a storm in the Gulf of Mexico. And, in response, many have prayed and are praying even as I write these prayerful words of reflection. And in the hours ahead many will pray as the obvious danger of this storm draws nearer and nearer. But here is the thing, there is always a “storm” drawing near. Many of the “storms” of this life cannot be forecast with Doppler radar and yet they are just as real and they often come without warning. These storms of life can leave a path of destruction and harm in our lives more long enduring than the effects of capricious tropical weather. And yet for many of us they seem less real and less worthy of prayer that seeks a Holy God's intercession.

The Disciples asked our Lord to teach them to pray. And throughout the Scriptures we are taught to pray: the Psalms, in Our Lord's prayer, and in m any other places we see the model of an open communication line with the Creator of the universe laid before us. So, let us pray!

And when this temporary storm passes on and our lives are “restored” to what we had before the storm...Let us pray!

When we find ourselves focused on ourselves...LET US PRAY!

Today, yes, let us pray that this storm is dissipated by the almighty hand of our merciful Father. Not because we deserve such favor but so that we might ascribe to Him the glory. Yes let us prayer for such mercy. But what of tomorrow and the next day? Let us pray. Let us pray to our Father not on the basis of our merits or worth but upon the worth and merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray. A storm is coming. A storm is always coming in this life. So let us pray to the One who is always more ready to hear than we are to pray. Let us pray!