Seeking the intimacy we need
'In these times, we have little choice but to turn to
God's faithfulness. I pray that we will make this our
choice.'
Turn to God in humility seeking Him.
(ahealthychurch-transforminglife)
The Three Essential Movements in the Life of Every
Christian
Part II - The Upward Journey
'Seeking the intimacy we need'
Richard J. Foster: Prayer and Seeking the
Kingdom
Intimacy with God is seldom high on the priority list of
contemporary people, including contemporary Christian
people. It somehow feels too romantic, too ethereal. We need
something more hard-nosed, more solid. And yet, what could
be closer to the core of our purpose for living than loving
God?
We are exiles and aliens until we can come into God, the
heart's true home. Pride and fear have kept us at a safe
distance. But as the resistance within us is overcome by the
operations of faith, hope and love, we begin moving upward
into the divine intimacy. This in turn empowers us for
ministry to others.
Leo Tolstoy tells the story of three hermits who lived on
an island. Their prayer of intimacy and love was as simple
as they were simple: 'We are three; you are three; have
mercy on us. Amen.'
Miracles sometimes happened when they prayed this
way.
The bishop, however, hearing about the hermits decided
that they needed guidance in proper prayer, and so he went
to their small island. After instructing the monks, the
bishop set sail for the mainland, pleased to have
enlightened the souls of such simple men.
Suddenly, off the stern of the ship he saw a huge ball of
light skimming across the ocean. It got closer and closer
until he could see that it was the three hermits running on
top of the water. Once on board the ship they said to the
bishop, 'We are so sorry, but we have forgotten some of your
teaching. Would you please instruct us again?'
The bishop shook his head and replied meekly, 'Forget
everything I have taught you and continue to pray in your
old way'.
Richard J. Foster Prayer - Finding the
Heart's true Home London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1992
p. 83
'Why do I meditate? Because I am a
Christian. Therefore every day in which I do not penetrate
more deeply into the knowledge of God's word in Holy
Scripture is a lost day for me. I can only move forward with
certainty upon the firm ground of the Word of God.' Dietrich
Bonhoeffer
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