by Pastor Chris Jameson
The following is a prayer excerpted from our pastor’s Substack, Furnishing Faith.
Patient Father,
Today I am left unable to escape my thoughts concerning [person].
Though I often have cause to consider [person],
my thoughts twist from hopes, fears, frustration, and sorrow,
as I watch them travel empty paths apart from You.
I confess that my voice has been too quiet in [his/her] ears,
yet shall I stay silent even here with You?
As yet [person] has rejected the great salvation I stand in by Your grace,
practicing instead indifference or attitude, disgust or distrust.
Though the clarity of Your claim in Creation precludes all ignorance and contention,
[person] has persisted in unbelief, lacking that faith which restores sight from under the screen of sin.
Hollow hopes and empty endeavors are [his/hers],
and though possessed by them, [person] pursues them down to death,
knowing nothing of the sweet savor of salvation, which streams from blood stained wrists.
For true joy inexpressible is had only at your right hand.
You alone give waters of life, flowing from the side of Your Son,
they immerse the dry and cracked, making the soul supple.
Peace follows the stroke of Your pen,
writing names in Heaven, and Your law on pliant hearts.
How then may I withhold this joy from [person]?
But bind our paths together in lock-step,
for You bless the feet of those sharing good news.
‘Til now, I confess I have not allowed my ponderings to progress into prayer,
and so I have settled, uneasy, as if sitting in shadow when light is close at hand.
Your word, that lamp to my feet, I have so seldom sought to see my way.
Shall I walk as they do, where fleeting hearts and weak flesh serve as broken compass?
May it never be, for You have sought lost sheep like me,
lighting the way back in Scripture, and seeking still more from the fold.
How then may I allow doubt to cloud my hope of [person]’s salvation,
for hearts are but streams of water, directed where You will,
and for You even enemies are turned to emissaries, as was I.
Even granite hearts turn flesh at Your touch,
and the rocks made to cry out Your name,
You, who can make stones to be sons.
So I ask that Your voice would ring true to [person]’s ear,
recognizing the Master and seeking His way.
Let [person] know the weight of [his/her] sin,
and the ease of Christ’s burden,
the darkness of [his/her] way,
and the light of Christ’s path.
Let this prayer be the first of many, that I would learn patience as I persevere,
that I would set my heart towards [person] as often as the Spirit sets [him/her] therein,
let my love for [person] sprout with my supplications.
Let my way with [person] overflow with warmth,
words fit for the season,
challenges fit for [his/her] frame,
and confidence rooted outside of myself.
May my patience reflect Your own,
and as I draw near in love to [person], may You draw [person] to Yourself.
Amen.
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