Devotional Reading from the Common Lectionary: Acts 9: 10-19a

Text: Now there was a disciple in Damascus name Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” (v. 10)

Prayer is dangerous. True prayer, that is. Prayer involves two things, one of which is listening for God’s answer. And all too often, God’s answer is not the answer that we want to hear.

God told Ananias to get ready to receive a persecutor of the Early Church; a man whose very name invoked fear. I can almost hear Ananias saying to God, “You’ve got to be kidding!” But that is one thing that God never does. God has a sense of humor but God never plays with you. Ananias was to help Saul “see”, truly see. God called Ananias to remove the scales of prejudice, experience, tradition, culture and all the other things that separate us from one another from Saul’s eyes. Ananias was to give Saul, soon to be know as Paul, his “God sight.”

I believe that prayer is still dangerous business. I believe that God still calls us to do things that we would rather not do. I believe that God still uses us to give “God eyes” to the spiritually blind. I believe that there is no greater or more important calling.

God, let me be fearful in prayer and courageous in response as I commit myself to do Your will as I understand it. Amen.