“Our posture can position us to engage the holy with our full attention. Our bodies, not just our souls, were meant for prayer. . . . Prayer has become an even greater struggle in a world of beeps and buzzes and easily attainable information. Sometimes staying present to the voice of God takes an intentional grasping, a clinging.”- Summer Joy Gross
“I WILL NEVER [under any circumstances] DESERT YOU [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless] NOR WILL I FORSAKE or LET YOU DOWN or RELAX MY HOLD ON YOU [assuredly not]!” – Hebrews 13:5 (AMP)
In Chapter 11 (“A Tangible Reminder: Building Awareness”) of The Emmanuel Promise, Summer Joy Gross observes that, through the single act of clinging, you can jump from present moment to prayer. For example, Summer grasps a tiny wooden cross as she walks.
Most significantly, Summer stresses, we all practice the presence of something. Many people, she notes, practice the presence of their cell phones. As a result, author Richard Foster (Celebration of Discipline) sees paying attention as the greatest need of this generation.
Consequently, Summer explains why she loves the clinging cross. She states:
“Here’s what I love about the clinging cross. Jesus didn’t just die for sins on that cross, He elected to carry all the suffering and pain of the world. When we grasp this cross, we remember that we are not carrying our pain alone. . . . As we grasp this cross, we practice giving Christ what’s impossible for us to bear. We set our hope on the power of the risen Christ.”
In conclusion, Summer encourages, when Jesus, the Light of the World, walks into pain, He scatters the darkness. Hence your wounds pave the path through which you minister. Therefore, nothing has been lost — or wasted. God never allows your pain to swallow you. Or mark the end of your story.
Today’s question: What sustains your prayer life amid a world of beeps and buzzes? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: Prayer postures = invitations”
