Saturday, October 20, 2012

Prayer: Remembering the Holiness of God


Holy God we humbly lift your name High, we your creation, confess in your presence we struggle with submitting ourselves to you.  Remind us that you are God of the universe, maker of heaven and earth. Amid a culture that exalts everything above you, we pause to remember that you are God; you are holy; you are present among us and yet, you are beyond this physical world and our intellectual sensibilities. Oh God we cry out to you, help us remember, that you dwell with us and that we are not to take your holiness for granted. We recall what you told Moses, that we are to honor your holiness – (Exodus 3:5 – 6) “Do not come any closer, take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” So, like Moses, with fear and deference to your holiness, in humility we too, cover our faces from your glory to receive the gift of your presence.

We give thanks to you merciful God for meeting us where we are – in the messiness of life – as we strive to live, love and follow you – you meet us right in our messiness, calling us to remember that you, God, are greater than our circumstances. You invite us to remember and consider like the Psalmist (Psalm 77), “O God, your ways are holy, Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrated your awesome power among the nations”. Right now God we reject the ways of the world and bow before you, submitting ourselves to your majesty and your holiness that beckons us to live and love like you.

We dare to remember with Peter who said to Jesus, (John 6:69) “Lord to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and know you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus we exalt your name, for there is none like you, (Colossians 1:16-17) “for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see… He existed before anything else and he holds all creation together”. Help us, Holy God to remember in all aspects of our lives to exalt you, because you are holy and life-giving, remind us as we serve, as we follow, and as we lead to do so in reverence to you remembering your Word points us to you and challenges us to live for you stating: (I Peter 1:16) "Be ye holy because I am holy!" O Lord hear our prayer, it is in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

As we consider the holiness of God and that God invites us to "Be holy because I am holy", we are challenged to consider:
                    (1) How does my life reflect the holiness of God? 
                    (2) What does it mean to be in relationship with a God that is holy? 
                    (3) What does the culture ask of me? What does God asks of me? 
                    Which leads me toward holiness?

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