In Exodus 3:13-15, “Moses said to God, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, What is his name? Then what shall I tell them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you." I am starting to get a glimpse of the Holy Mystery of not defining God, limiting Him to gender or form. Like Moses, I ask God, “who shall I say you are?” Thankfully He came in the flesh as Christ to teach us what HE looks like on earth and heaven. Though, before Christ walked the earth, God breathed, “I AM,” period. How comforting really that He is who He is and we can come to Him in spirit and truth. For He will walk down any path, take any shape, to reveal His nature of redemption and love. The Lord’s prayer in the New Zealand common book of prayer is one of those transformational prayers that transcends form and reveals God for who He is. May this prayer seep deep into your bones and bring freedom to your body.
An Alternative to the Lord’s Prayer
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-Bearer, Life Giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of All,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings.
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our
hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptations and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen