A Prayer for a Larger Perspective

Last updated on: February 9, 2015 at 11:14 am by Mark Sandlin

A Prayer for a Larger Perspective 2015-02-09T11:14:55-05:00 Mark Sandlin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Good and Gracious God,

Doing “Thy” will
is sometimes a more difficult task
than we care to admit to ourselves.
Our humanity has been hardwired
for self-preservation
and our sometimes limited view
of the world
convinces us that self-preservation
can only happen through acts
of self-centeredness –
looking out for numero uno.

When that is our world perspective
it can be far too difficult
to see past
our self-imposed self-importance
and we find that compassion
becomes limited to actions
that are themselves limited by
what they will cost us –
financially,
physically,
emotionally,
spiritually.

Help us learn to extend ourselves.
Help us step out of our
all-too-human comfort zones
and risk our self-importance.
May we see the value
of all human life
and not just our own.

May we never let go
of taking care of ourselves
but may we elevate
taking care of others
to the same realm.

May we lose
our sometimes limited worldview
and replace it with the view
you see,
a picture of how we are connected,
a picture of how care for other
is ultimately care for self.

Let us see that it all ties back
to one word,
“love.”

Amen.

Consider supporting Mark’s blogging. Help create a market for Progressive Christianity. Not through big publishers or big denominations, but through the grassroots. We need to encourage the growth of progressive Christian voices in the marketplace. Even a dollar will help.

Facebook continues to make it increasingly difficult for me to let you know about new blog posts like this. Please consider signing up for my mailing list where we can insure you are notified. Just click here!

Mark is a co-founder of The Christian Left. Come and join the conversation!

Previous Post

February 6, 2015

Prudish Christian Sexual Hang-ups and the Real Problem with “50 Shades of Grey”

Next Post

February 16, 2015 Why This Minister Hates These “Favorite” Christian Quote Verses – John 3:16 and Romans 8:28

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category abortion Advent Afterlife agnostic America atheist Bible bourbon Brad Pitt Brokeness Christianity Christmas Church Civil Rights Confessions Congress Conservative Christianity Crucifixion Easter election Elections Equality Facebook Feminism Ferguson Fiction Following Jesus Foodie Gamers God GOP Gospels Gun Control Health Care Hell Heretic Heritic Holy Week Humanism immigration Inclusiveness Innovation Institutionalized Church Intellectualism Islam Jesus Job Justice Lectionary LGBT Life Love Matthew 11 Minister MLK Mother's Day Movie Review Movies Music Nones Obama peace Political Pope Francis Poverty Prayer Prison Progressive Christianity Prophetic Question Mark refugee Resistance sex shooting Sin Spirit Thanksgiving The 10% The Christian Left The Walking Dead Theology Trinity Trump Uncategorized unChristian Unemployment United States violence voting war Women's rights workers rights

Select a Month January 2017 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz