Spirit Prayers - Dr. Devoree Clifton Crist

Spirit Prayers (eBook)

Growing Faith Through Adversity

Dr. Devoree Clifton Crist (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2023 | 1. Auflage
124 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
978-1-6678-9835-3 (ISBN)

In a world still reeling from a global pandemic, divisiveness, systemic hatred, violence, war, disorientation, uncertainty, change there is evidence that we are all suffering from trauma and sustained stress. Looking to the plant world as metaphor for the prayer relationship with God, 'Spirit Prayers: Growing Faith Through Adversity' offers reflections on Scripture passages from the common lectionary. The growth theme reflects the authors own faith journey through this difficult time.

In a world still reeling from a global pandemic, divisiveness, systemic hatred, violence, war, disorientation, uncertainty, change and so much unsettling us, there is evidence that we are all suffering from trauma and sustained stress. Looking to the plant world as metaphor for the relationship with God "e;Spirit Prayers:Growing Faith Through Adversity"e; offers reflections on Scripture passages from the common lectionary. The growth theme takes us to the Sower, our roots, seeking out nourishment, connectedness, producing fruit, and facing stress. It is often through hardship or suffering that we come to a deeper relationship with the Holy. We are seeds planted by a loving God who is our foundation. As we take root in the divine we are made strong and more resilient. Our growth leads to an understanding that in God we can face difficulty, fear, or any condition with assurance of the Divine Presence, guidance and protection. Our response is love and service. The author felt a strong push to add a third book to the previous two because after praying through the pandemic she realized how turning to her faith brought her through and is sustaining her in this prolonged time of disquiet, agitation and adversity . She hopes you can find some support through Scripture reflection and beginning your prayer with her.

INTRODUCTION

We are in a time of great turmoil.

Internationally, war and atrocities continue all over the world. Most recently Russia invaded Ukraine, contributing to and exacerbating global economic woes and concerns around immigration. Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder are on the rise. Multiple countries across the globe report higher rates of symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other psychological stress in the general population during the Covid-19 pandemic,1 which has been extended with new and more contagious variants. Eradication of the virus has not been possible and the virus will become endemic. On top of that, we are now facing a new threat from Monkeypox; we will be living with this reality for many years to come.

In the United States, our progress in the fight against racism has been slowed by white supremacists who have gained powerful positions in the government. Likewise, women’s rights are being challenged and we are seeing changes that might return us to a more misogynistic society. The rights of other marginalized groups are being threatened. My search for statistics on crime yielded the fact that crime in general and hate crimes have increased. There has been a boldness in harassment and other assaults against people of color and LGBTQI+, Jewish and Muslim persons. Outward displays of hate and violence are no longer hidden as people armed with phone cameras are capturing these incidents.

The number of guns and gun violence incidents in the United States is higher than any other wealthy developed country in the world. We have seen over 300 mass shootings (defined as involving 3 or more persons) in the first part of 2022 alone. Gun violence is a grim daily reality.

We are living in the aftermath of an armed insurrection against our own government, though some have called it “patriotic” protest. The unrest amongst our divided populous is frightening. Social media algorithms have made it possible to live in different worlds, creating isolated bubbles in which information outside a particular world view is immediately designated as fake. Such a one-sided examination of events makes a critical assessment of the news impossible, and people continue to offer views with a certainty that allows no discussion. This leads to disharmony in families, between former friends, at the workplace and in the society at large. People are lashing out.

Beyond this underlying societal angst, we are dealing with disruptions in our individual lives that also cause a great level of stress. With over five-hundred and sixty million cases globally and around eighty-nine million in the United States alone, it is rare to find an individual who has not had someone they know who has had Covid-19. We are now finding out that long Covid occurs in somewhere between 10 and 30% of cases. Long Covid is the experience of new, persistent, or recurring symptoms beyond four months. This adds a level of fear and stress to our concern about becoming infected.

During the height of the pandemic, there were many deaths related to delayed, canceled, or postponed care. Fear of Covid-19 kept patients away from the ER and doctors’ offices. Fear of vaccination led to serious infection, hospitalization, and death. These fears persist. The inability to be with patients in the hospital no doubt led to increased morbidity. Many people experienced isolation, the lack of personal interaction, and loneliness. Such social interruptions will likely have serious repercussions in our young people. Their education has definitely been stymied. An article published by McKinsey and Company showed that students ages K-12 were affected academically, behind by 4 – 6 months. These students also experienced social and emotional challenges with, for example, the loss of family members or caregivers who lost their jobs.2

Many people lost jobs, health insurance, and homes, and now face the struggle to get back on their feet. Food insecurity is higher than before, and the needs of many are greater. Jobs have increased in number, but compensation and supporting features like health insurance, child care assistance, leave and a sense of job security have decreased. Workers are choosing not to take these jobs and business are finding it hard to hire and keep workers. While charitable giving has remained the same or risen slightly, overall need has increased, straining resources.

With all of this overt and underlying constant stress as our constant companion, we find our connection to God becomes more urgent. Our usual form of worship has been disrupted; some churches have closed their doors or moved to a hybrid method of worship. Even as we attempt to move back to our traditional locations, people are experiencing varying degrees of anxiety and discomfort around the necessity of doing church in a new way. There is an awareness that things are not and will never be the same as before the pandemic. We are simultaneously grieving and hoping for something new.

In times like these we often recognize that need for a closer alignment with the Holy. My own personal spiritual health requires more frequent re-centering. I find myself asking for focus and a calming of my spirit because of the very challenges that I face. These challenges provide the opportunity to move inward, nurture the inner spirit, and grow. Work on our interior life prepares us for other trials, challenges, and uncertainties.

In all this, I felt a persistent nudge to do another book, even though I thought that Spirit Prayers series was complete. When I looked through the prayers I had written since the last publication I discovered that there was a definite theme emerging, one that addresses this need to turn inward to find respite from the unrest in our corporate spirit. As is always the case, God blesses and provides guidance through adversity.

The book’s theme of spiritual growth begins with God the Gardener. In Chapter 1 Meet the Sower, the prayers remind us of the characteristics of God. The creator is good, faithful, trustworthy and steadfast. If we are rooted in the Holy we have strength and are not easily moved. In Chapter 2 Be Rooted the prayers are about being connected, centered and anchored by our wonderful God. Likewise as plants grow they naturally are drawn to the source of their nourishment, like turning toward the sun for light and seeking water and nutrients in the soil. In Chapter 3 Seek God the prayers remind us of the need to seek our Source for guidance, strength, and understanding. In Chapter 4 Recognize Our Oneness in God we pray about our connectedness, the unity which makes us dependent on one another and responsible for one another. It has recently been reported that there is evidence that trees have a rich network beneath them that allows them to talk to each other.3 Not only do they communicate to share water and nutrients but they are able to send warnings about disease and drought and share nutrients in this way. Older trees feed younger ones. We are connected to one and other and God in much the same way.

As plants yield fruit, we live lives of service in response to the enormous outpouring of God’s love and grace. In Chapter 5 Yield Fruit the prayers open us to respond more fully to God’s call on our lives. We are fed and in response we can feed others. Chapter 6 Withstanding Turmoil shares prayers for difficult times. With strong roots we can withstand drought during those dry times when it is hard to pray. With nurture, we can withstand the harsh winds that push us down. In rainy season when God showers us with abundance, we are able to receive and respond. Like long grass in a flood plain, we faithfully stand together to protect each other and the world from harm when we are flooded with overwhelming adversity.

Recognizing Jesus’ own understanding of God as gardener and sower, Chapter 7 The Lord’s Prayer reflects on each line of the prayer our Lord gave his disciples. At first I hesitated to write prayers in response to Jesus’ own prayer, but his gift to us can be life-changing if we spend time with each beautiful line and reflect on the wisdom each word provides. I include it here because of the transformative nature of the prayer. After I chose it, it appeared in the lectionary and my pastor preached on the text. That seemed like an affirmation to me. Praise God!

I believe that prayer is not just something we do but is a way of living. It is a connection with the Holy that keeps us steady and aware of what really matters. If we work to keep God at our center then we will make good and wise choices, see the world through a lens of love, compassion and mercy, and become the person God created each of us to be. I encourage the reading of Scripture as one way to be inspired by the Holy Spirit. Words or phrases within the text speak directly to us.

I intentionally did not include full text of the Scriptures in order to encourage your reading from your own bible. There are many online Bibles available if your personal Bible is not near at hand.4 Most of the texts are from the common lectionary. The exceptions are verses from the Gospel of Thomas, a gospel discovered later and not included in the biblical canon. I also include a quote from a holy woman I admire. These are printed so you don’t have to search for them. Following the Scriptures or quotes are short prayers I wrote after my own meditation on the verse or verses. God’s gift to me has been an opening of my own heart to a closer relationship with the Divine. I offer this book...

Erscheint lt. Verlag	1.5.2023
Sprache	englisch
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie ► Christentum
ISBN-10	1-6678-9835-3 / 1667898353
ISBN-13	978-1-6678-9835-3 / 9781667898353

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