Prayer for the Week: “Fear not,” says the Lord, “for I am with you.” This declaration from scripture resonates within our spirits, Merciful God. We hear these words; we desire to embrace them; we seek to believe them and own them for our daily lives. Yet claiming to live a life without fear and actually living a life without fear are not the same. Such a life, as you know O Lord, does not come naturally to us. Fear – not the healthy kind of fear that shows wisdom – but fear that consumes us and limits our capacity to live faithfully with you is the fear we desire to overcome. Irrational fears, misguided fears, invented fears, unfounded fears – so often such fears are rooted in our insecurities. Too often we allow – the good you call us to do, the compassion you need us to share and the love you need us to reveal – we allow these things to be overshadowed by our fear of failure or other fears that emerge as we perceive what might be required of us – vulnerability, sacrifice, loss of friends or status. Doing the right thing – to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with you, God – can be arduous, and will toy with our fears. So we ask for an infusion of your Spirit, a fresh experience of your grace-filled presence. It is only then that we shall do the good we know we are to do. This we pray in the name of our model and encourager, Jesus. Amen.
