Praying in Opposites
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong
holds. II Corinthians 10:4
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| Image by Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto from Pixabay |
In spite of the catchy title, I’m not sure “praying in opposites” is really a thing. So what do I mean by it? What I'm going for is to pray in something holy in place of something unholy – an exchange of light for darkness.
When I was in college - many moons ago - I had the following prayer taped inside my notebook. It is known as the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13thcentury Italian friar. Other sources dispute the authorship, suggesting it is of more recent origin. No matter; I was drawn to the sentiment, not the author.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O Divine Master, grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
And it's in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born to Eternal Life
~ Prayer of St. Francis
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
And it's in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born to Eternal Life
~ Prayer of St. Francis
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| Image by Janet Meyer from Pixabay |
However, I like to ground things in the Word, so I would suggest we use the prayers of binding and loosing to “pray in the opposite.”
In Matthew 18:18 we learn about binding and loosing. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Combining the St. Francis prayer and that verse, we can bind hatred and loose love; bind despair, loose hope; bind sadness, loose joy. It is, of course, not the only way to apply Matthew 18:18, but I do think it is one way.
Praying over the state of Oregon what do we bind, and what do we loose?
Suggestions:
o Bind division and strife; loose unity and peace
o Bind poverty and lack; loose prosperity and provision
o Bind confusion; loose wisdom and insight
o Bind fear; loose faith
o Bind discouragement and depression; loose hope and strength
And so on…
I have found this to be a very effective way to pray, one of the “weapons of our warfare.”
Thoughts?
Margaret
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