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Reverence in prayer

Dear friends, today I would like to share a little on reverence in prayer. It is said in Isaiah 66.1 that Heaven is God's throne and the earth is God's footstool. God is so great! Yet in spite of the greatness of God, how do we very often approach God? Do we approach Him with reverence? One of our brothers who is also a "co-founder" of our Community used to remind us, "In the world of today, one of the virtues that has almost completely disappeared is the fear of God. We are so used to hearing that "God is love", that we are not afraid to abuse His love and mercy! Whatever sins we commit, we can excuse ourselves saying, "God is love", so it is okay to keep on sinning." 

Yet for a moment let us pause to think how we would behave in the presence of royalty. I live in the UAE which is governed by a Sheikh. If His Highness the Sheikh were to come to my house, I would think twice before sitting down before I am asked to or to sit down before he sits down. One of my first concerns would be to make sure he is made welcome. 

Now let us come back to the reality of prayer. How do we approach God, the great King before whom all citizens of Heaven and earth will have to bend the knee one day? When we pray, do we come with feelings of reverence? Do we bow our heads? Do we kneel? Do we raise our hands in supplication? Do we praise Him well? Do we thank Him? These are all actions if left to the externals alone, can degenerate into mere rituals. But if carried out in "spirit and in truth" (John 4:23), they win the approval and esteem of God. 

Let us listen to Him: "This is the one whom I esteem: the one who is humble and contrite, who trembles at my Word" (Isaiah 66.2). When we approach Him in personal or common prayer, whether in the privacy of our homes or in the public space of the Church, let us always have a reverent fear of God and so win His approval. May He extend His sceptre towards us and say to us, "You are my beloved son, my daughter. You have won my favour." (Matthew 3.17; 2 Corinthians 6.16-18). 

May the Lord our God bless us all, may He strengthen all of us to do His Will!

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