A prayer before a deadline

Albert Bogle February 25, 2023 3 4

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Matthew 6: 25-34 (NRSVA)

25 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

I wonder how many of us tossed and turned in our beds last night worrying about something. I think worry need not be a bad thing, it can make us proactive to do something about a situation — to perhaps meet a deadline.

In such a case I wonder if there is a fine line between worry and prayer itself. Of course if I worry about something that I have no control over then Jesus in this reading gives us  some good advice. Take each day at a time. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

PRAYER:

Lord,

I’m worried

So here I am praying

The thing is

I’m worried about my reputation

Not the consequences of my inactivity

And how my lack of response will affect others

I’m worried doubly now

About my self-centred attitude

Does that make my prayer invalid?

Should I be praying about this at all?

Is this another one of my selfish prayers?

Lord,

On this occasion

I’ve taken too much on

I couldn’t say “No”

Help me Lord

Finish what I’ve started!

Surely,

It can’t be a sin to want a good reputation?

Surely you will agree

I’m doing the right thing

Reflecting on my actions

I’m wondering

Will I learn from my mistakes

Can I ask forgiveness

When I have ignored the signs

When I have  procrastinated

When I have just about let the deadline slip past

Lord,

Help keep me focused

I’ll get the job done

And I promise

I’ll definitely sort out my motives

Tomorrow!