This week we conclude our month of praying the plain and personal expectations of God for us and our neighbors from Micah 6:6-8. Having confessed our poor assumptions of what God desires, and expressed our need for the strength to live simply, we now come to the prayer’s final imperative: “don’t take yourself too seriously…take God with you seriously.”
We’ve prayed these words over and over again this month, but this week, let us make time for them to sink down deep into our hearts, minds, and souls. For, our prayer goes against what is most natural to us: for us to be the center, even of our relationship to God. What we are praying for, for ourselves and one another, is that our attention would be less focused upon ourselves (even us trying to get things “right”) and more attuned to the gracious truth of God with us. When we live aware of His always presence, we will live in the joy, courage, and freedom He desires for us.
So this week, pray God’s Word through Micah three more times. As you read the emboldened texts, take a deep, slow breath. Allow your lungs to fill with not just with oxygen, but with the Spirit of God with you, God for you, God in you. Sit in the words and silence of the fullness of God long enough to finish the prayer with the energy of our Father’s heart for and through you.
Father, how can we stand before YOU
and show proper respect to our GOD of gods?
Do You desire us to bring an armload of offerings
topped off with our finest possessions?
Would You, Father, be impressed with if we emptied our bank accounts,
poured out to You buckets and barrels of all that we can produce?
Father, would You be moved if we sacrificed our firstborn, the precious fruit of our body for the sin of our soul?
No?! That’s not what You require. You’ve already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what You, Father, are looking for in humanity, in us.
It’s quite simple, and personal You say:
Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourselves too seriously—
take You and You with us, seriously.
That’s it! And if we know what is good for us, we’ll listen.