Special Prayer

Here is a special prayer that I read from the book “IT” by Craig Groeschel.This book is about the church and the work that we have in this world.  He has the premise that there are churches that have “IT” and churches that don’t have “IT” or that have lost “IT”.  I am excited to say that this book challenged my thinking, caused me to evaluate what I do and how I do “IT”.  The message of Jesus Christ is not something that should be taken lightly or without passion or thought.  May I say this prayer and know that it is a way to always be seeking “IT” so that the gospel will go out and the Holy Spirit changes lives.  It is a Franciscan benediction read it and process “IT”:

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and the exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who from pain, rejection, and starvation, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

What are your thoughts about this prayer?  How can you see this playing out in your daily life?  What can you do to see that you church has “IT”?