The Advent season is an annual reminder that God comes to us before we come to God, the one not dependent upon the other. We don’t need to “invoke” God’s presence – God comes to us.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life– the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life.. I John 1:1-2
It seems that struggle and confusion is inherent in our nature. Consider this literal translation from Aramaic of a portion of the Lord’s Prayer:
“lead us not into confusion, or mistaken priorities, but deliver us from evil” (per Huston Smith in The Soul of Christianity)
This is perhaps one of the clearest ways I have found of knowing whether I am following the God who comes, Emmanuel, or am following another spirit. If I am lost in confusion or I act in ways that are counter to what I know to be true, then the spirit I am following is not that of eternity.
The life of prayer is not a way of manipulating reality to suit our desires. Nor is it a way to invoke God’s presence. Rather it is the way we “wake up” to God who is already among us, leading in the circumstances of our lives.
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