A Seamless Life: Prayers of our Predecessors (May 23)
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul, - Psalm 25:1 (ESV)*
Hebert George Welch was a bishop in the United Methodist Church (as well as the Methodist Church and Methodist Episcopal Church). He served at Ohio Wesleyan University as their fifth president. Born November 7, 1862, he died April 4, 1969 at the age of 106!
Thoughts:
I love this part of Bishop Welch's prayer: "You we cannot deceive. Keep us from trying to deceive others or to deceive ourselves. May we be sincere, without guile or hypocrisy, genuine - our lives of one piece, like the seamless garment of our Lord." Welch draws a beautiful analogy in his prayer. He asks the Lord to work in us to make "...our lives of one piece, like the seamless garment of our Lord". In doing so, Welch is praying that we wouldn't live our lives in a compartmentalized way. That we wouldn't be duplicitous. That we would live authentically not just before the Lord and others, but before ourselves. In asking the Lord to help us from trying to deceive ourselves, Welch is acknowledging that nature within us that seeks echo chambers and yes men and covers up mirrors that expose our faults. He's calling on the Lord to press us into honest self-assessment and a self-awareness. May the Lord give us eyes to see our faults in the light of His Holiness. And may this prayer become effective in our lives to drive us to a seamless life...that who we are in private is who we are in public. Genuine...real...and true.
Our Heavenly Father, as we close our eyes we would open our hearts to You. You know us altogether; the very thoughts of our hearts, our innermost ambitions and desires, our secret ways - "all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13b) You we cannot deceive. Keep us from trying to deceive others or to deceive ourselves. May we be sincere, without guile or hypocrisy, genuine - our lives of one piece, like the seamless garment of our Lord.
Keep us from the folly and wickedness of a divided life, that is one thing within and another without; that is humbled and reverent on the day of worship, but hard and cold and selfish on the days of work and pleasure.
May we be thoughtful for those who serve us, and faithful to those whom we serve. May our daily task be consecrated to You, that not only the fruit of our labor, bur the toil itself of hands and heart and brain, may be use for Your Kingdom.
Make all our lives of friendship and books and rest and love and laughter and service sacred to You, that You may be the glory through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. Amen.
Hebert Welch, D.D., LL.D - Delaware, Ohio (Modernized)
* Corrected Scripture reference. The 1923 printed edition of God's Minute cited this as Psalm 86:2
* Corrected Scripture reference. The 1923 printed edition of God's Minute cited this as Psalm 86:2
The Author:
Hebert George Welch was a bishop in the United Methodist Church (as well as the Methodist Church and Methodist Episcopal Church). He served at Ohio Wesleyan University as their fifth president. Born November 7, 1862, he died April 4, 1969 at the age of 106! Thoughts:
I love this part of Bishop Welch's prayer: "You we cannot deceive. Keep us from trying to deceive others or to deceive ourselves. May we be sincere, without guile or hypocrisy, genuine - our lives of one piece, like the seamless garment of our Lord." Welch draws a beautiful analogy in his prayer. He asks the Lord to work in us to make "...our lives of one piece, like the seamless garment of our Lord". In doing so, Welch is praying that we wouldn't live our lives in a compartmentalized way. That we wouldn't be duplicitous. That we would live authentically not just before the Lord and others, but before ourselves. In asking the Lord to help us from trying to deceive ourselves, Welch is acknowledging that nature within us that seeks echo chambers and yes men and covers up mirrors that expose our faults. He's calling on the Lord to press us into honest self-assessment and a self-awareness. May the Lord give us eyes to see our faults in the light of His Holiness. And may this prayer become effective in our lives to drive us to a seamless life...that who we are in private is who we are in public. Genuine...real...and true.
Comments
Post a Comment