Good morning, digital neighbors! Blessed Sabbath and Happy Saturday to all! One of the more challenging aspects of prayer is that we get confused about who needs to change in the relationship. Too often, seekers of the Luminous and lovers of the Divine exert their efforts trying to change God to their will. They believe the correct prayer or the right passage of scripture will suddenly make God more favorably disposed toward us and more likely to answer our prayers. In some unreflective way, too many of us pray “my will be done” rather than “Thy will be done.”

It is understandable why we might be tempted to think this way. For centuries, most of humanity believed their gods and goddesses were simply more powerful versions of ourselves—beings who needed to be honored and placated so they would look favorably upon us. Stay on their good side, or suffer the consequences. Some of those stories and myths contain great life lessons and offer windows into reality and the mystery of the human person. They are wonderful stories that help us better understand our own unique story.

The Nameless God of Abraham and Sarah was not like that. The Unnamed One simply asked that they listen to Him and act in trust. Trust leads to obedience, and obedience gives God freedom to act in our lives. Sacrifices can honor God—and there are plenty of them—but the Nameless One does not need sacrifices; we do. As He states often in His revelation to Israel: “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6).

We pray to change ourselves, not God. We pray to know God and get over ourselves. We pray to listen to the humble promptings of God, too often muted by our own busyness. We pray to thank God for the whole gift of being alive—the most amazing and unmerited thing in our lives. We pray to love the One who first loved us. A prayer or two for you this morning: a morning offering and another prayerful thought from Yielding: Prayers for Those in Need of Hope. Blessed Saturday, dear neighbor!

God, my Friend,
this day is yours.
I offer you my acceptance
of whatever you send –
suffering, joy, toil, trouble –
ennobled far beyond my means
because it comes through the greatest gift
you gave me to offer,
Jesus, your Son, our Eucharist.
I pray not to change your mind,
only to understand it,
to yield to it.
But I do ask you to be with me,
especially in….
And I ask your loving watchfulness
for my friend….
Help me find you, through the day,
beneath all your surprising disguises.
Amen.

Living God,
help me to shred the calendars in my mind,
everything up to today.
Help me surprise everybody with a smile.
Let them guess what’s gotten into me.
Five’ll getcha ten,
they’ll never guess it’s You.

Sunrise - Dave Hoefler - Unsplash