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MEDITATION:

Written by Christopher Bryant (1906-1985), an English priest and author. This is an excerpt from his book “The River Within.” 

There is a two-way relationship between prayer and life. Prayer can be seen as the focusing and redirecting of an attitude to God and to our fellow [human beings] that runs through all that we do. On the other hand, we can see our daily life as something which prayer purifies, directs, and consecrates. This interrelationship of prayer and life was expressed by William Temple in his well-known saying, “It is not that conduct is the end of life and worship helps it but that worship is the end of life and conduct tests it.” Temple is here using worship in a broad sense to include all of life. For in worship, as the derivation of the word from worth implies, we declare what we value most. If in prayer I declare that I value God above all things and in my life, I show that my own selfish interests come first I am making a nonsense of my praying. We declare how we value God as much by our actions, by the way we treat other people, by the manner in which we do our work, as by anything we say. If my actions are wrong or wrongly motivated prayer cannot make them right. If however, despite my failures and inconsistencies, I do on the whole want to put God above all things then prayer will hep to purify my motives and clarify my judgment.

PRAYER:

Written by Jack Graham, a contemporary American pastor.

 Heavenly Father, each day is a struggle against sin and temptation. Give us the strength to overcome cruelty with grace, and hatred with love. God, remind us that our actions matter. We do not fight a physical battle but a spiritual one, and with each act of compassion we build your kingdom. Help us to be kingdom-builders today. Amen.