A genuine prayer to help us stay grounded in this mad world

Our world is a mad place and unfortunately it just seems to be getting worse. Social media doesn't seem to help either as it spreads more anger and bitterness than most of us can handle. 

Even amongst Christ-followers, we are fed a whole lot of 'fake' versions of what it means to follow Jesus. For this reason, I find the Prayer of Saint Francis to one of depth, truth and sincerity. These words are based on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) and in my opinion, are a Christ-like way of living.

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."

Thought: If you have time, read through Matthew 5-7, and see the connections between the prayer and the words of Jesus.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Becoming an instrument of peace

What does it mean to seek Peace? What did Jesus really mean when he said: "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)

Over the next few posts, we will explore a little more around this topic, but perhaps the best place to start is to reflect on these familiar words first:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (Saint Francis of Assisi)

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Don't overcomplicate things - praying simply!

I have met very few people who claim to be "good" at prayer. Most of us feel that there is lots of room for improvement and we would be correct. However, I also know that there are many of us who try to overcomplicate our prayers and then we wonder if we are praying in the right way or not! 

Perhaps there is a simpler way to start...?

When we find ourselves drawn to pray, we need a little prompting to get us going. Sometimes having a starting verse or opening line, may be the thing that we really need. 

Some Christians use the first line of the Lord's Prayer as their kickstart (Our Father who is in heaven), while others may start with a scripture, (The Lord is my Shepherd). Perhaps the Apostle Paul may have used his famous words as his starting point: "These three remain: faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love!"

And then of course, there is Saint Francis. He may have used his own prayer: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace..." 

Or John Newton - he may have started off with: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound..."

My point is this: Prayer takes time and discipline, but we need to start somewhere. Please don't get tangled up in worrying 'how', but rather just start.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Some thoughts from Saint Francis of Assissi

Saint Francis is remembered on the 4th of October, and there are so many words of wisdom that he has left for us to reflect on. The most well-known of his thoughts are immortalized in "Make me a channel of your peace", but he has many others too. 

Here are a few for today. May his words help us to look up to the presence of Jesus in our lives.

Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily. To lean upon Thy great strength, trustfully, restfully. To wait for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely. To meet others, peacefully, joyously. To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously.

Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received - only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.

What is it that stands higher than words? Action. What is it that stands higher than action? Silence.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Who is watching who?

"On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely." - Luke 14:1

The great irony of Jesus sharing a meal with the Pharisee was that although he was being watched very carefully, Jesus was equally observant about their behaviour. This is why he asked them a very challenging question concerning the man who had dropsy (v.2-3). Matthew Henry comments on this verse by arguing:

"Even in the common actions of life, Christ marks what we do, not only in our religious assemblies, but at our tables." 

This challenges us to include Christ in all aspects of our lives and not just at the 'religious' moments in our communities. We may be able to fool some people during our religious moments, but we can't fool God when we live the rest of the week. 

"The one you are looking for is the one who is looking." - St. Francis of Assisi 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

An unusual Reformer

God was already stirring up 'renewal' in the hearts of people hundreds of years before Martin Luther was even born. In fact, about 300 years before Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door, Saint Francis of Assisi was challenging the way we relate to God. His quest to recognise God in all things, including nature, birds and animals, eventually left an indelible mark on our Spirituality.

"Ask the beasts and they will teach you the beauty of this earth."

And then, he remarked that the way we treat animals is an indication as to the way we will treat another human being:

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."

I am thankful for his contribution to the church community. May we learn from those who have gone before us. Enjoy His prayer as you go about your day.


"Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily. To lean upon Thy great strength, trustfully, restfully. To wait for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely. To meet others, peacefully, joyously. To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously."

Living in Grace
D3LM3