Spiritual Practices: Breath Prayer
Overview
The Jesus followers in Corinth had a problem. There was division and conflict in the church, some of it arising from the different spiritual gifts God, through the Holy Spirit, had given to the different people. Some thought their gift, their calling, their passion, was more important than other peoples, gifts, callings, and passions. Some people were envious of the gifts that others had and looked down on themselves. Paul challenges those perspectives in this chapter. He compares the church to a body. There are many different parts in the body and each one has a different function, but all of them are important to the body being healthy and able to function. He says that we cannot value one part of the body more than any other part. Regardless of what a person's gifts, callings, and passions are, they are an essential part of the body of Christ, the church. Despite the different gifts God has given us, or more accurately, because of them, we need to value everyone equally and live in unity and mutual support for one another recognizing that each of us has a part to play in the body of Christ. This breath prayer is a request for that type of unity in the church.
Prayer
Abba Father, make us one.
Overview
The Jesus followers in Corinth had a problem. There was division and conflict in the church, some of it arising from the different spiritual gifts God, through the Holy Spirit, had given to the different people. Some thought their gift, their calling, their passion, was more important than other peoples, gifts, callings, and passions. Some people were envious of the gifts that others had and looked down on themselves. Paul challenges those perspectives in this chapter. He compares the church to a body. There are many different parts in the body and each one has a different function, but all of them are important to the body being healthy and able to function. He says that we cannot value one part of the body more than any other part. Regardless of what a person's gifts, callings, and passions are, they are an essential part of the body of Christ, the church. Despite the different gifts God has given us, or more accurately, because of them, we need to value everyone equally and live in unity and mutual support for one another recognizing that each of us has a part to play in the body of Christ. This breath prayer is a request for that type of unity in the church.
Prayer
Abba Father, make us one.