Devotion for July 12, 2022
So he said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, may your name be revered as holy. May your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” – Luke 11:2-4 (NRSVUE)
Where do you see God when your “to do” list is a mile long? We often praise God when things are going well, and we turn to God when things are difficult. Yet those highs and lows of life don’t actually make up the bulk of our lives. Most of our time goes to getting done the things that need to be done. Each person has a slightly different list, but the basic framework is pretty much the same. Going to work, mowing the lawn, washing dishes, doing laundry, arranging doctor appointments, buying groceries, driving others to their activities. Our days fill up making sure that we have done the basics. In many ways it is easier to be aware of our connection to God in the high moments and the low ones. Both break us out of the rhythm of the ordinary and cause us to think differently. That disruption gives a space where we are more likely to encounter God.
What about the busy ordinary times, though? Where do we find that space that we can be aware of God breaking into the world when our days are full of so many deadlines and things that simply must be done? Martin Luther famously once said that he had so much to do in a day that he had to pray for three hours in order to get through it all, but not many of us have that kind of discipline. Are there other ways to catch glimpses of God in our days? There are certainly some suggestions that work for some people, like saying a quick prayer at every red light or remembering your baptism as you wash your face. These can be helpful, but are habits that take a while to develop and do not work for everyone.
One of the most basic practices of Christian life is to pray the Lord’s Prayer. At its heart, it is a prayer asking God to recognize God’s presence in the everyday ordinariness. Praying this prayer earnestly and regularly is a central way of recognizing God’s ongoing presence, work, and holiness in our lives each day. There is no better place to start if you are looking for ways to notice the holiness of what you do each day and the ways that God works through it. It can be truly transforming to be centered in this prayer. If you are looking for a way to see God more clearly in the midst of getting through your mile-long “to do” list, I suggest trying to say it each day. Keep it at the same time each day so that you develop a routine with it, perhaps as part of lunch or a mid-afternoon break. It may well begin to change your perspective.