Thursday, December 15, 2011

unbroken, and constant.

"read as a particularly clear example psalm 5: repeatedly there are two voices, bringing the same concern to God. is this not a hint that one who prays never prays alone? always there must be a second person, another, a member of the fellowship, the body of Messiah, indeed, Jesus himself, praying with him, in order that the prayer of the individual may be true prayer. is there not in these repetitions of the same thought, which in psalm 119 rise to the point where it seems that it would never end, the tremendous suggestion that every word of prayer must penetrate to a depth of the heart that can be reached only by unceasing iteration? is this not an indication that prayer is not a matter of pouring out the human heart once and for all in need or joy, but of an unbroken, constant learning, accepting, and impressing upon the mind of God's will in Jesus Messiah?

-dietrich bonhoeffer.

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