What do we do when we pray?

Genesis 18 16 - 33

What do we do when we pray?

Sure, it’s nice and we got plenty to say

And maybe people’ll look at us and be moved and impressed by our seemingly compassionate words

Or how our seemingly broken hearts are portrayed?

But,

Does anything ACTULLY change?

Yeah, I know we talk a good game,

But does God, really hear these feeble attempts, these heartfelt cries, these most basic of words that only just about seem to reflect what we see with or natural eyes?

Maybe

Well

Let me paint you a picture

With a little help from scripture

(And, for the purposes of creating some visual imagery and expressing a little poetic licence, I will play the main part)

So I’m just sitting here

in the heat of the day

Jus lounging coz life’s been running away

The great trees are tall, and I’m loving the shade

But, my days about to change

Then

I’m awoken, by 3 figures in the distance,

This sets my mind skipping

They look like normal men, but there’s something distinctly different

It’s like standing in the presence of greatness

It’s like Gods right here, but he’s not, err well, I can’t really explain this

So I approach, I’m weary and nervous but

These guys seem to posses something that I simply can’t, not be around

Events unfold, stories get told

The likes of which my mind can’t even hold

But as the time comes to a close

The strangers stand to leave

But there’s something in them that seem to just call out to me?

So I follow, confused, but, expectantly

It’s as if....

There’s some kind of job, they have for me?

So we stroll a while and take in the view

The 3 seem to carry a wisdom that I can’t quite comprehend,

it’s in that vibe they send

It’s not shaped by words but by some kind of presence they exude????

They lead me up a narrow hill pass,

And as the evening closes in and the darkness starts to consume all that it sees

As we reach the brink of the hill

The cool of the night brings and uncomfortable chill

The night stands still

We gaze upon the view in front of us

And at the view, we stop

Below us lies the great city

And such pain screams out from the depths of it at such a level it just can’t be missed

Suddenly

As if he’d always been a part of me

GOD himself is standing right beside me

He simply says “I can’t take this”

“There needs to be an end to this”

Then there’s a moment to pause and reflect on the words in silence

A sudden rush fills my insides, and it’s not out of any sense of pride, or to mask any ideas of selfishness that manifest from inside

But as if prompted by some sense that my words could actually make a change

I blurt out some words, like my tongue cant be contained

“This can’t happen” I say

“There must be another way”

What if 50 good people were left in that city today?

Surly those lives are worth something,

No life is worth nothing?

OK

These strong humble words, speak of such faith and hope

Now I’m developing a lump in my throat

Coz, I don’t think I’m done

My faith and compassion are high

And I know I’m not talking to any ordinary guy

And that’s why

I feel I should say

“What if it’s a few less than that number left today?”

And so we go on, back and forth in heated debate

But unlike any bidding was I ever saw

The numbers don’t saw, but fall?

Back to back we let words ignite

And as the evening becomes the daylight

I finish my pledge

Just 10 left

What if just 10 were left

Please

Don’t leave this city for dead

Huh, you’ll never guess what he said....

Then I’m back to the here and now

Same heart, same mind, but living for now

And I’m left high above our own fair town

Right here

right now.

And as I observe with compassion in heart and a bright hope in hand, I begin to relies that I can’t save it.

At times I’d like to but

I can’t save it

But maybe

Dare I even consider?

That perhaps

My prayers could help change it?

Maybe this God can change it?

What if we could stand?

With truth in hand

Compassion in heart for this broken land

And simply ask God, to spare this town?

A rush of faith runs down my spine

I start to consider that these words of mine

Could play some tiny part, in Gods eternal plan.

So now, here I am

Only offering words

Simple words and a hope that God hears them tonight

If all I can do is cry out to you,

For the lives of these people then that’s what Ill dedicate myself to

And maybe you don’t know if it’s gonna work or if these words are true

But please

Put some hope in the same God of the first farther of faith, the first of the jews

And plead with me,

That hope grace and justice, might reign true

My prayer is simple

Your kingdom come

Your will be done

As it is up there,

Down hear let it come

In the lives of ............................(add your own names here)

Please, save our town,

Start in us

Start tonight

And then my mind turns to think

Was it God who’s heart that was turned?

Or was it me who’s only just starting to learn.......?