The Power of First Responders Is Not Their Own

 

And I prayed for Aaron

also at the same time.

              Deuteronomy 9.20

(Even in his anger and despair

over what Aaron had done,

Moses responded

              by praying.

Praying defused his anger

and gave him the wisdom

   and courage to

   set the situation rightside up.

By praying not just about it,

    but through it,

 allowed Moses

         to love his brother

     back from his sin

and bring God's supernatural

          power to sink in.

Do we even consider praying

          as our comeback

   when someone messes up?

Praying is the way

       of loving other people,

       forgiving them,

   and doing something

            restorative about it.

Prayer exhibits the

  Newton's Third Law of Motion:

Every action has an equal

    and opposite reaction.

What if we responded

     by bringing prayer

     instead of ammunition to it?

The triggers may remain the same,

  but what if we trained our hearts

      to pray as our default?

Prayer is neither a natural

    nor equal reaction.

Prayer changes everything,

         deeper still

even ourselves.)

O LORD,

We confess that praying

  is not the first thing we do

when we have been wronged,

when someone messes up,

when we are angry with

        those around us.

Fill us with Your love

   to overflowing.

Grant us Your heart in this,

    even Your words to pray,

and another way through.

Guide our hearts

      to pray to You.

Fill us with Your Spirit

   in volatile circumstances

for Your unexpected glory.

May Your love prevail

  over our words and actions.

Help us to respond

   and not just react.

Even in this.

             Even today.