Photo by Ludovic François on Unsplash

What is the capacity of my compassion?

Sometimes people polarize around prayer and get energized or offended by the object of a prayer request.

Sort of misses the point of prayer.

God, fashion my prayers within me that they might flow through me and return to you with a sincerity, purity, and compassion that is beyond my capacity …

… and divorced from my proclivities.

Prodded, perplexed, pondering, persuaded, and prompted to activation is often my story like a God awakening in pain to heal and stir my heart.

Let me not be polarized by prayer, neither within my divided heart nor in division from my brothers and sisters.

We are one flesh. We are one blood. We are one broken bread.

The very audacity that I should use my limited capacity in bombastic utterence to exclude or posture for position.

"He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me." – Psalm 18:19 (ESV)

That is for me.

That is for you.

I must place myself in the place where the space is wide enough to receive you and to receive grace.

And whether I speak these words of myself or others, may I pray their intention daily:

I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eye wastes away because of grief;
it grows weak because of all my foes.
– Psalm 6:6-7 (ESV)

I know this describes where some of you are today, weariness, tears, weeping, groaning, and weakness.

Know this from the psalm, that it is OK to tell God. Know this also, that God knows, understands, cares, and enters into your experience.

My those of us who intercede, enter in as well.

Know even more that there is a parallel story being written about your journey.

It is a story that is far more accurate because it is wrapped up in the final paragraphs, more accurate because it knows and tells the unseen and unperceived realities that are active all around you.

It is more complete because God wins and you win.