Covenant thoughts

The Methodist Covenant prayer continues with:-

let me be employed for you,
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you,
or brought low for you;

The song by Brendon Graham is an apt starting point as we look at today’s section of our covenant prayer.

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary

When troubles come and my heart burdened be

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence

Until You come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders

You raise me up to more than I can.

This part of our covenant prayer is perhaps the most difficult part to say and to live. For as human beings our natural inclinations is to be ‘doing’ people.  In these lines of prayer it is more about ‘being’ people, regardless of the circumstance we face. In many ways we could call this incarnational living.

This prayer forces us to ask how committed we are to God’s will in our lives. Are we willing to suffer for Christ? Are we willing to submit other desires, goals, achievements to the larger purpose of Christ transforming grace?

A man once came to a preacher and said, "I was filled with joy in the service yesterday. Now it has all gone—all—and I do not know what to do. It is as dark as night."

"I am so glad," was the preacher's reply.

He looked at the servant of Christ with astonishment and said, "What do you mean?"

"Yesterday God gave you joy. Today He sees you are resting on your emotion instead of Christ. He has taken it away in order to turn you to Christ. You have lost your joy, but you have Christ. Have you ever passed through a railway tunnel?"

"Yes, often."

"Because it was dark, did you become melancholy and alarmed?"

"Of course not."

"And did you, after a while, again come into the light?"

"I am out now!" he exclaimed, interrupting the servant of Christ. "It's all right, feelings or no feelings!"

Is this what the Psalmist meant when he said, “Though I walk through the shadow of death you are with me”?

Shepherd of our lives, Guide us to the still waters. Lead us on the right paths. Walk beside us when we go through our darkest valleys. Help us to know Your Comforting Presence is always with us. We know that in You there is nothing to be afraid of, so help us to stand for love, peace and justice. We know that You prepare the table before us, that You care for us, that We are Your sheep forever. Help us in this world to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with You; and wherever we may go, may we follow Your path. In the name of Christ, the Good Shepherd, we pray. Amen.