11 September 2024 – Pause & Pray

Every Wednesday we invite you to Pause & Pray with us. Today’s Pause & Pray is written/curated by Beth Quick.

Image: “The Tree of Knowledge,” Bill Bell

PRAY:

We long for wisdom, O God, but prefer that it be our own.

We turn away from the ideas of others

and ignore the possibility and promise that come

from life together with you.

Most of all,

we drown out your gift of Wisdom as she seeks to get our attention,

for we believe that we know better

or would prefer to decide where we make her welcome.

Forgive us, loving God.

Bring an end to the self-righteousness that ignores you,

and awaken us anew to the Wisdom that comes only from you.

Show us how to walk in your ways

and listen to your promise each and every day.

(from Rev. Andy James, Liturgy Link)

MEDITATE:

Are you wise? Are you foolish?

26 Consider your own call, siblings: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30God is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in God.’ – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, NRSV